Fitzsimmons, Scott 1980- creator text bibliography Case studies. enk Cambridge New York Cambridge University Press 2013 monographic eng

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ix, 332 p. 24 cm. "In Mercenaries in Asymmetric Conflicts, Scott Fitzsimmons argues that small mercenary groups must maintain a superior military culture to successfully engage and defeat more numerous and better-equipped opponents. By developing and applying competing constructivist and neorealist theories of military performance to four asymmetric wars in Angola and the Democratic Republic of Congo, he demonstrates how mercenary groups that strongly emphasize behavioral norms encouraging their personnel to think creatively, make decisions on their own, take personal initiative, communicate accurate information within the group, enhance their technical proficiency, and develop a sense of loyalty to their fellow fighters will exhibit vastly superior tactical capabilities than other mercenary groups. Fitzsimmons also demonstrates that although the victorious mercenary groups occasionally had access to weapon systems unavailable to their opponents, the balance of material capabilities fielded by the opposing military forces had far less influence on the outcome of these asymmetric conflicts than the culturally determined tactical behavior exhibited by their personnel"-- Scott Fitzsimmons. Includes bibliographical references and index. f-ao--- f-cg--- Mercenary troops Case studies Mercenary troops Angola History 20th century Mercenary troops Congo (Democratic Republic) History 20th century POLITICAL SCIENCE / International Relations / General Angola History, Military 20th century Congo (Democratic Republic) History, Military 20th century U104 .F47 2013 355.3/54 POL011000 9781107026919 2012002645 DLC 120123 20260630114653.0 17130960