The Void in Tactical Level Economic Doctrine
The Void in Tactical Level Economic Doctrine
by David Anderson and Jonathan Schaffner
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In light of experiences in the Balkans, the Horn of Africa, the Caribbean and on-going operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, the United States military made several revisions to its doctrine. Many of these revisions account for the complexities in counterinsurgency, stability and reconstruction operations, especially when these operations take place amongst ongoing kinetic activities. Some of the changes reflect a new found respect for operations conducted in Vietnam or, depending on the source, a thinly veiled reference to French actions in Algeria. These changes acknowledge the need for a whole of government approach, mention the word economy or economics as if it were permanently connected to social or political considerations, and even elevate the economy to an operational variable. However, they fail to fully expound on the tactical leader's involvement in economic activity and the necessity for achieving sustainable economic development in the operating environment. Using current Army Field Manuals (FM), a contracted research document and military source directives and instructions, this review will present the context in which these publications mention or address economics and the depth they venture to explain applications at the tactical level.
Download the Full Article: The Void in Tactical Level Economic Doctrine
Dr. David A. Anderson is a retired U.S. Marine Corps officer. He is now a professor of Strategic Studies and Odom Chair of Joint, Interagency, and Multinational Operations at the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, where he teaches strategic and operational studies, as well as economics. He is also an adjunct professor for Webster University, where he teaches various international relations courses including, International Political Economy and Globalization. He has published numerous articles on military, economics, and international relations related topics.
Major Jonathan K. Shaffner is a U.S. Army Major who holds a masters of business administration from Northeastern University and is a recent graduate of the School of Advanced Military Studies. He is now on his fifth deployment in support of OIF/OEF as a planner with USFOR-A.
