Bordieuan Field Theory as an Instrument for Military Operational Analysis (New Security Challenges)

This book is open access under a CC BY 4.0 license. This book uses Pierre Bourdieu’s field theory as a lens through which to examine military operations. Novel in its approach, this innovative text provides a better, more nuanced understanding of the modern ‘battlespace’, particularly in instances of prolonged low-intensity conflict. Formed in two parts, this book primarily explores the scope of Bourdien theory before secondly providing a detailed case study of the Yugoslavian succession war of 1990-1992. Gunneriusson suggests that although theories do not necessarily provide answers, they do help us ask better questions. This volume suggests news lines of interdisciplinary investigation that will be of interest to members of armed forces, practitioners from NGOs, and policymakers. Preface 7 Contents 9 About the Author 11 Abbreviations 12 List of Figures 13 Part I Theory and Background Field Theory as an Instrument for Operational Analysis 14 Chapter 1 Terms in Search for a Theoretical Definition 15 Abstract 15 Bibliography 23 Chapter 2 Field Theory 25 Abstract 25 Bibliography 37 Chapter 3 The Political Field in the Operational Area 38 Abstract 38 A Tentative Checklist 41 Bibliography 43 Chapter 4 Field Operations as Information Warfare and Operationalisation of Theory 45 Abstract 45 Bibliography 57 Part II Empirical Example 59 Chapter 5 The Pre-war Strategic Situation in the Balkans from a Field Theory Perspective 60 Abstract 60 Bibliography 70 Chapter 6 The Events in 1990 72 Abstract 72 Bibliography 81 Chapter 7 The Events in 1991 83 Abstract 83 Bibliography 93 Chapter 8 The Events in 1992 96 Abstract 96 Bibliography 104 Chapter 9 Epilogue: Beyond 1992 106 Abstract 106 Bibliography 111 Chapter 10 Conclusions of the Empirical Example 113 Abstract 113 Bibliography 116 Chapter 11 Post Scriptum: Hybrid Warfare and the Yugoslavian Blueprint 117 Abstract 117 References 122 Bibliography 124 Index 126 Front Matter ....Pages i-xv Front Matter ....Pages 1-1 Terms in Search for a Theoretical Definition (Håkan Gunneriusson)....Pages 3-12 Field Theory (Håkan Gunneriusson)....Pages 13-25 The Political Field in the Operational Area (Håkan Gunneriusson)....Pages 27-33 Field Operations as Information Warfare and Operationalisation of Theory (Håkan Gunneriusson)....Pages 35-48 Front Matter ....Pages 49-49 The Pre-war Strategic Situation in the Balkans from a Field Theory Perspective (Håkan Gunneriusson)....Pages 51-62 The Events in 1990 (Håkan Gunneriusson)....Pages 63-73 The Events in 1991 (Håkan Gunneriusson)....Pages 75-87 The Events in 1992 (Håkan Gunneriusson)....Pages 89-98 Epilogue: Beyond 1992 (Håkan Gunneriusson)....Pages 99-105 Conclusions of the Empirical Example (Håkan Gunneriusson)....Pages 107-110 Post Scriptum: Hybrid Warfare and the Yugoslavian Blueprint (Håkan Gunneriusson)....Pages 111-117 Back Matter ....Pages 119-123 Annotation This volume uses Pierre Bourdieu's field theory as a lens through which to examine military operations. Novel in its approach, it provides a better, more nuanced understanding of the modern `battlespace', particularly in instances of prolonged low-intensity conflict

effects-based operations; EBO; Pierre Bourdieu; field theory; information warfare; communism