You've probably seen this, but a recent article by Steven Metz in the Journal looked at Maslow's Hierarchy and participation in insurgency, closely related...
http://smallwarsjournal.com/jrnl/art...-in-insurgency
You've probably seen this, but a recent article by Steven Metz in the Journal looked at Maslow's Hierarchy and participation in insurgency, closely related...
http://smallwarsjournal.com/jrnl/art...-in-insurgency
“The whole aim of practical politics is to keep the populace alarmed (and hence clamorous to be led to safety) by menacing it with an endless series of hobgoblins, all of them imaginary”
H.L. Mencken
I have. I liked his basic premise and the way he broke up the elements of the insurgency based on their own reasoning for being involved. Too many times we think there is only one group or one way people think. They are only motivated by a liberal belief in human rights. Not really the case. Also means that any solution has to be uniquely tailored to the environment.
I was listening to NPR today, it sounded like a replay of a BBC program where the question was asked about whether it was OK to question politicians on their religious convictions or interpretations of the scriptures. The reporter asked whether asking those questions was reasonable since the US was a secular nation and the response was that the US was not securlar, never was, and that the founding fathers made that clear in their consistent references to all rights and liberties being granted to us by God. Not sure that all Amercian's would agree with that but at least some here think our nation's legitimacy is built on religion, not liberalism. If a person assumes the whole country is like that they might come up with a bad plan.
Last edited by TheCurmudgeon; 02-25-2012 at 10:41 PM.
"I can change almost anything ... but I can't change human nature."
Jon Osterman/Dr. Manhattan
---
I'd say any time people in one country speculate on the bases of political legitimacy in another country they tread upon thin ice... and that action based on such speculation is likely to result in a plunge into cold water.
One of the odder quirks or recent American thinking on such matters is the idea that "hearts and minds" can be "won" by "providing services". People don't generally fight their government because they aren't getting services, especially in places where expectations of government are historically low. People fight their government because they fear it, they're angry at it, or both. Providing service isn't likely to dissipate fear or anger unless some effort is made to figure out why people are afraid and/or angry, and correct those conditions.
“The whole aim of practical politics is to keep the populace alarmed (and hence clamorous to be led to safety) by menacing it with an endless series of hobgoblins, all of them imaginary”
H.L. Mencken
This an area where Dayuhan and I share a similar perspective. It is not the services one receives or does not receive; nor is it whether one is rich or poor: It is how one feels about such things, and who one blames.
When the US jumps into the middle of another country to either overthrow, demand changes, or sustain some despot we put ourselves squarely on the proverbial "blame line" for any segment of the affected populace that is coming up short in that transaction.
Robert C. Jones
Intellectus Supra Scientia
(Understanding is more important than Knowledge)
"The modern COIN mindset is when one arrogantly goes to some foreign land and attempts to make those who live there a lesser version of one's self. The FID mindset is when one humbly goes to some foreign land and seeks first to understand, and then to help in some small way for those who live there to be the best version of their own self." Colonel Robert C. Jones, US Army Special Forces (Retired)
As well intended as the soldiers on the ground are, and how carefully the call for support is thought out and planned, the govt has some other plans (that's what we thought).
In the early 70s in South America our team assessed the need for electrical power and more ammo. On an abandoned air strip the 130 came in low and dumped two pallets of 6 volt batteries and a sierra load of 7.62 blank cartridges. We had asked for two 60kw generators and 10,000 rounds of 5.56.
Later in 94 with over 4,000 refugees dying a day from heat exhaustion and cholera, we sent out the call for water and antibiotics. The 7th SOS complied and yet another 130 buzzed low over the banana fields dumping a pallet of dry biscuits, flour and a pallet of warm baby clothes.
It was 40 degrees C. with 1,000% humidity
Later, much later, a C5 from California flew in fire trucks. At least we could now pump water (from a dead lake).
Seems it doesn't really matter that most of us "there" know what to do without even considering what Uncle Maslow would have thought
If you want to blend in, take the bus
Someday I am going to have to do look at why military people remember the miserable and chose to share it so often. I know of no other group that enjoys talking about all the things that go wrong as much as the military do (maybe the police).
BTW, I have visions of Solders trying to place two pallets of six volt batteries end to end to get the power they needed.
"I can change almost anything ... but I can't change human nature."
Jon Osterman/Dr. Manhattan
---
Given your Avatar I'd assume you're a soldier or cop I'd have to say that NGOs and Rescue bitch far more and love "it" when it sucks ! Maslow would have us embracing mistakes in the hopes of being rewarded with some happiness myth - he obviously never served in the Army
Since we needed at least 110kw (parralleled 60s) of AC the batteries were no good and ended up on the black market. The ammo would have at least sounded threatening, but we didn't have a weapon for belt-fed ammunition
If you want to blend in, take the bus
Bookmarks