Suchergebnisse

This book analyzes Palestinian attempts to create an organized military force from the period of the Mandate up to the present day. Beginning with a comparative overview of the relationship between insurgent movements and the quest to build up a standard military, the book looks, first, at how the 1936 revolt galvanized the Palestinian leadership to attempt to create a military. It then goes on to examines other major topics such as: the 1948 failure to create an organized armed force; Palestinian participation in other Arab armed forces; the creation of the PLA; attempts to develop a security.

The author identifies the roots of organized crime in Ba'athist Iraq and reports on major criminal activities including the theft, diversion, and smuggling of oil, the kidnapping of both Iraqis and foreigners, extortion, car theft, and the theft and smuggling of antiquities. The author also reports on how al-Qaeda in Iraq, Jaish-al-Mahdi, and the Sunni tribes used criminal activities to fund their campaigns of political violence ; Phil Williams

This paper examines the proliferation of vigilantes and militias in Uganda, and their relation to the underpinnings of political governance. Vigilantes and militias are historically a reality linked to limited state authority. However, the current Ugandan vigilantes and militias are extraordinary because their activities enjoy tacit official support The state has used them in counter-insurgency operations to protect communities and defend itself. The use of vigilantes and militias to fight insurgency is a manifestation of how regime security is prioritized by weak states. The state tacitly supports their activities as unofficial security groups. However, their existence is in reality undermining democratic governance, the rule of law and the development of normal security institutions. Adapted from the source document.

In Russland gibt es wieder Freiwilligenmilizen. Wie zu Sowjetzeiten überwachen sie den öffentlichen Raum, helfen bei der Verbrechensbekämpfung und dienen der sozialen Disziplinierung. Sie werden aber auch zur Unterdrückung politischer Proteste eingesetzt. Verfechter der Milizen betonen, dass sie Jugendlichen die Chance eröffnen, zu vorbildlichen Bürgern zu werden. Die Volkspatrouillen verkörpern eine Form des staatlich geförderten zivilgesellschaftlichen Engagements. Dass sich Hunderttausende junge Menschen freiwillig in diesen Milizen engagieren, zeigt das Ausmaß konformistischen Handelns für das Putin-Regime. Die traditionelle These, dass sich staatliche Organe und zivilgesellschaftliche Organisationen gegenüberstehen, trifft hier nicht zu. Den Befürwortern der Patrouillen ist es aber nicht gelungen, die Freiwilligenmilizen als ein allgemein akzeptiertes Vorbild für Jugendliche durchzusetzen. (Osteuropa (Berlin) / SWP)

Iran-backed militias in Iraq fired ballistic missiles and rockets at U.S. troops operating in Ain al-Assad airbase in western Iraq.
The post Iran-backed militias attack U.S. forces in western Iraq first appeared on FDD's Long War Journal.

Iran-backed groups launch rocket and drone strikes against U.S. bases in eastern Syria.
The post Iran-backed Militias Target U.S. Troops in Eastern Syria first appeared on FDD's Long War Journal.

International audience ; This study focuses on how civil militias in Banten and Lampung do their persistence in society. Civil militias play significant role in society not only as being intermediaries between civil societies themselves and the government, but also as a mediator between the different political levels of society: In addition, the existence of martial arts groups give contributions as initiation bases for the activist masses. This study on civil militias also shows how political parallel networks compete for power, beyond the parties and political chairs.

International audience ; This study focuses on how civil militias in Banten and Lampung do their persistence in society. Civil militias play significant role in society not only as being intermediaries between civil societies themselves and the government, but also as a mediator between the different political levels of society: In addition, the existence of martial arts groups give contributions as initiation bases for the activist masses. This study on civil militias also shows how political parallel networks compete for power, beyond the parties and political chairs.

In the late Middle Ages and early modern times, able-bodied men between sixteen and sixty years of age were called upon all over Europe to participate in raids, sieges and battles, for the defense of home and hearth. Because these men are regarded as amateurs, military historiography has paid little attention to their efforts. This book aims to change that by studying the mobilization, organization and weaponry of popular levies for a time when war was frequently waged between states in the making. Central to the book is the composition and development of the rural and urban militias in Friesland, dissected in a comparative Northwest European perspective, along with an examination of why the self-defense of the Frisians ultimately failed in their efforts to preserve their political autonomy. The main source is an extensive series of muster lists from 1552 that have survived for six cities and fourteen rural districts.