1. The normative theory of military performance; 2. Neorealist combat balance theory; 3. 5 Commando puts down the Simba Rebellion; 4. Callan's mercenaries are defeated in Northern Angola; 5. Executive outcomes defeat UNITA; 6. The White Legion abandons Zaire; 7. Conclusion.
Fitzsimmons argues that small mercenary groups must maintain a superior culture to successfully engage and defeat larger and better-equipped opponents.
Scott Fitzsimmons is Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council Postdoctoral Fellow in the University of British Columbia's Department of Political Science.
“While much has been written on the impact of mercenary forces on
colonial and post-colonial wars, Mercenaries in Asymmetric Conflict
is special in that it unveils a new explanation of why mercenary
groups often win against more numerous and better-equipped
opponents. Looking through the lens of competing constructivist and
neorealist theories of military efficiency this impressive work
demonstrates how mercenary forces that strongly emphasise behaviour
norms associated with military performance will display massively
superior tactical competency than forces which ignore these norms.
This scholarly book should be of great interest to academics and
practitioners alike as it sets out to explore new lines of inquiry
on a very important subject.” – Dr. Christopher Kinsey, Reader in
Business and International Security, Defence Studies Department,
King’s College, London
“Scott Fitzsimmons’s book takes us back to the world of mercenary
warfare, a field that has been under-researched for a long time.
The difference these actors make in asymmetric wars and the
conditions that determine their performance are important,
fascinating, and timely problems. In his clear and precise
analysis, Fitzsimmons goes well beyond the conventional and
prejudiced picture of the greedy and bloodthirsty soldier of
fortune. His investigative analysis unpacks mercenary military
culture, thus significantly extending our knowledge of these
actors’ behavior and performance. Not only will his accessible work
be highly beneficial to academics, but its implications are also of
interest to policy makers.” – Dr. Ulrich Petersohn, Senior
Researcher, ETH Zurich
“Fitzsimmons effectively casts aside the common state-centricity in
international relations theory to give mercenary groups their due
treatment. In so doing, he usefully adds to the ongoing
conversation between neorealism and constructivism. What is more,
his well-structured and rich empirical study provides the reader
with a framework to contemplate the larger and growing phenomenon
of armed non-state actors on the world stage.” – Dr. Christopher
Spearin, Department of Defence Studies, Canadian Forces College
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