Before Military Intervention

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-xvii

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2. Introduction: Anticipating Future Stabilisation

   • Robert Johnson, Timothy Clack

   Pages 1-26

3. The Discreet Indispensability of Unpiloted Assistance? Remote Aerial Capabilities in Upstream Preventative Stabilisation Interventions

   • Paul Schulte

   Pages 27-52

4. The Dilemmas of Security Assistance to a Failed State: Lessons from Somalia

   • William Reno

   Pages 53-77

5. ‘Fighting Out Its Own Complex and Fatal Destiny’? On the Limitations on the Use of Force in Yemen

   • Aaron Edwards

   Pages 79-97

6. Crisis and Intervention: Combating Terrorism in the Sahel

   • Susanna D. Wing

   Pages 99-121

7. Improving Responses to Protracted Conflict: Why Borderlands Matter for Upstream Engagement

   • Annette Idler

   Pages 123-143

8. Future Stabilisation Strategy and the Changing Upstream Environment

   • Robert Johnson

   Pages 145-164

9. The Apocalyptic and the Sectarian: Identity, ‘Bare Life’ and the Rise of Da’ish

   • Simon Mabon

   Pages 165-190

10. The Unintended Consequences of Upstreaming: Western Engagement in Iraq

    • Gareth Stansfield

    Pages 191-209

11. Back Matter

    Pages 211-213

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This book explores the natures of recent stabilisation efforts and global upstream threats. As prevention is always cheaper than the crisis of state collapse or civil war, the future character of conflict will increasingly involve upstream stabilisation operations. However, the unpredictability and variability of state instability requires governments and militaries to adopt a diversity of approach, conceptualisation and vocabulary. Offering perspectives from theory and practice, the chapters in this collection provide crucial insight into military roles and capabilities, opportunities, risks and limitations, doctrine, strategy and tactics, and measures of effect relevant to operations in upstream environments. This volume will appeal to researchers and practitioners seeking to understand historical and current conflict.

• military intervention
• military studies
• security studies
• army
• military strategy
• upstream stabilisation
• military theory
• historical conflict
• conflict in the Middle East
• Western intervention
• conflict studies
• stabilization strategy
• use of force
• intervention in yemen
• intervention in Iraq
• intervention in Africa
• crisis and intervention
• borderlands
• politics of security assistance
• International intervention

“A timely and important examination of the changing nature, purposes and politics of conflict and intervention in the entirely new conditions which confront us in the world today.” (Lord Howell of Guildford, Chairman of the House of Lords International Relations Committee, UK) 

“Conflict prevention is an uncertain business. It requires good timing, excellent understanding, and no small amount of good luck. Tim Clack and Rob Johnson’s volume gives us an excellent starting point for knowing the challenges we must address, where we must prepare, and what we must avoid. I recommend it for all those engaged in the theoretical and the practical side of this work.” (General Sir David Capewell, Former Commander of Joint Operations, UK) 

“In an age of growing instability alongside a reluctance to engage in ‘post-conflict stabilization,’ it is wise to take an increasing interest in engaging ahead of conflict—this valuable book presents both practitioners and researchers with an excellent smorgasbord of insights.” (Major-General Andrew Sharpe CBE, Director, Centre for Historical Analysis and Conflict Research (CHACR), UK)

• St Peter’s College, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK

  Timothy Clack

• Pembroke College, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK

  Robert Johnson

Timothy Clack is Fellow and Lecturer of St Peter’s College and Senior Research Fellow of the Changing Character of War Centre, University of Oxford, UK.

Robert Johnson is Director of the Changing Character of War Centre and Senior Research Fellow of Pembroke College, University of Oxford, UK.

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