On Obedience: Contrasting Philosophies for the Military, Citizenry and Community - Pauline Shanks Kaurin

This review has been submitted to Cdn Army Journal

Title: On Obedience: Contrasting Philosophies for the Military, Citizenry and Community
Author: Pauline Shanks Kaurin
ISBN: 978-1-68247-491-4
Publisher: Navel Institute Press
Year: 2020
Hardcover
Pages: 274 

In her enlightening book, "On Obedience: Contrasting Philosophies for the Military, Citizenry, and Community," Pauline Shanks Kaurin delves deep into the complexities of obedience and explores its multifaceted roles in military, civilian, and communal settings. Drawing from history, philosophy, and contemporary examples, Kaurin offers a thought-provoking analysis of obedience, challenging traditional notions while shedding light on the importance of critical thinking and ethical considerations in shaping societal norms. Kaurin then delves into how these differing philosophies play out in different areas of society, such as the military, where obedience is a core value, and the broader citizenry, where the emphasis may be more on individual rights and freedoms.

The book begins with a captivating historical overview of obedience in military contexts. Kaurin examines how obedience has been praised as a cornerstone of discipline and effectiveness, particularly during times of war and conflict. However, she does not shy away from delving into the darker side of unchecked obedience, evident in atrocities committed by soldiers under the guise of following orders. Drawing from case studies and interviews, Kaurin skillfully emphasizes the moral responsibility of individuals to question unethical commands and the role of leadership in fostering a culture of critical thinking within the military.

Kaurin further expands her exploration of obedience into the realm of the citizenry. With a keen focus on the social contract between citizens and the state, she analyzes the nuances of obedience to laws and regulations. The author acknowledges the necessity of some degree of obedience for maintaining social order but is quick to caution against blind adherence to unjust laws. She expertly navigates through historical and contemporary examples to underscore the importance of civil disobedience as a means of driving social progress and challenging unjust systems. This section prompts readers to reflect on the power dynamics at play and encourages them to question authority when necessary to effect positive change.

Perhaps the most engaging aspect of the book is Kaurin's exploration of obedience within communities. She sheds light on the interconnectedness of individuals and how their obedience to social norms shapes the fabric of society. The author delves into the psychology of conformity, exploring why people may choose to comply with societal expectations even when it goes against their personal values. Through rich anecdotes and social experiments, she presents a compelling argument for fostering independent thinking within communities, enabling them to evolve while respecting individual autonomy.

One of the book's standout qualities is its nuanced approach to obedience, as Kaurin avoids presenting it as an inherently negative or positive trait. Instead, she encourages readers to understand the complexity of obedience and its situational nature. Throughout the text, Kaurin emphasizes the role of ethics, empathy, and critical thinking in guiding decisions about when to obey and when to resist. Kaurin presents a nuanced and well-reasoned argument that obedience is not a monolithic concept, and that its value and place in society must be understood in context. She argues that while individuals have a responsibility to question and resist unjust orders, they also have a responsibility to obey lawful orders that are in the best interests of society; that while blind obedience can be dangerous and even immoral, there are certain situations in which obedience is necessary for the functioning of society and for the greater good. This approach is refreshing and promotes a balanced perspective on the topic.

Although the book is rich in insights, some readers may find the academic language and references to philosophical theories a touch complex. However, Kaurin manages to make these concepts accessible to a broader audience through her relatable examples and real-life anecdotes. Additionally, the book's comprehensive bibliography serves as a valuable resource for those seeking further exploration into the subject.

In conclusion, "On Obedience: Contrasting Philosophies for the Military, Citizenry, and Community" is an intellectually stimulating and timely exploration of obedience in various societal contexts. Pauline Shanks Kaurin offers a well-researched, articulate, and thought-provoking analysis that challenges conventional notions of obedience while underscoring the importance of critical thinking, ethics, and individual responsibility. This book is an essential read for anyone interested in understanding the complexities of obedience and its implications for the military, citizenry, and communities.

Ostland - David Thomas

Title: Ostland

Author: David Thomas

ISBN: 978-162-3-65849-6

Publisher: Quercus

Year: 2015

Hardcover

Pages: 400

David Thomas’s novel is an in-depth psychological analysis of how an individual is able to be manipulated and, by extension, enable themselves to be manipulated thereby adjusting their moral compass in a justifiable manner. It is a study of transformation facilitated by duty, circumstance, training and conditioning.

Commencing in pre-war Germany, the author traces the career of a brilliant young police detective as he commences his profession with one of the elite crime squad units in Berlin. What starts as an idealistic, somewhat naïve approach to the harsh realities of police work undergoes a gradual but inexorable change as his success results in promotion and additional responsibilities concurrent with the rise of Nazism and the outbreak of war. This entails a commission in the SS, a transfer to Minsk and an expanding task of dealing with partisans and other undesirables (namely Jews). The narrative flips between the pre-war and war period to the early 1960’s when another idealist undertakes the prosecution of one of West Germany’s greatest police officers for war crimes (the self-same young police detective).

The author has created a fascinating and disturbing analysis of human nature and its strength and vulnerability. Looked at with the benefit of hindsight it is easy to condemn in the strongest terms and with broad strokes the behaviours of those responsible for the slaughter of so many. Yet, examined in greater detail it becomes apparent that the activities of these individuals may in fact be far more nuanced than the black and white that society wishes.

This book is not an apology or an excuse for the appalling activities of the SS, Gestapo and the police forces who carried out the policies of the WW2 German government but neither is it a blanket condemnation. Like all great books, the author sets out to force the readers, through the medium of a story, to challenge paradigms, cause to reflect and to think. Thomas succeeds in this endeavour extremely well.  His story telling is factual and tight, the pace, while not dynamic is nonetheless engaging. This is a well written, disturbing narrative of a cast of characters and their society in a struggle that transcends the sounds of the guns and strikes at the very nature of who we are and how we deal with unimaginable circumstances. 

Thieves of State - Sarah Chayes

This review has been submitted to The Journal of the RCAF

Title: Thieves of State

Author: Sarah Chayes

ISBN: 978-0-393-23946-1

Publisher: Norton

Year: 2015

Hardcover

Pages: 262

Photos/Maps: 0/7

Media and Government attention, traditionally and more notably during the last 15 years, has been focused upon the economics and operational tactics of identified terrorist groups and their supporters. A phenomenal amount of military and economic resource has been brought to bear in an effort to crush these organizations. Notably missing from the dialogue however, has been attention to those governments whose actions have instigated, enabled and facilitated these activities. Nor does it appear that there is a clear understanding of the direct link between the corrupt practices of national leadership and an appreciation of its impact upon the ability of fringe organizations to advance their causes. Chayes’s book sheds a blinding light upon the clear connection between these activities, their impact and western government’s reluctance to acknowledge them.

Starting with a discussion of the writings of Locke, Milton, Nizam al-Mulk, Luther and Machiavelli (to name but a few) she looks at the repeated acknowledgement of the responsibility of leaders to their people; the so called ‘Mirrors of Princes’ treaties. These were texts emphasizing the critical necessity of leadership to be accountable to the people whom they lead (and the potential impacts if they are not followed). This book is not however, a dry political analysis; Chayes draws upon her 10 years of work in Afghanistan as a reporter, an entrepreneur and a foreign policy adviser to the US military in order to draft an accessible and eminently readable discussion of the endemic corruption of the Karzai government and the response of the US political and military establishments.

Her approach is not jaundiced but balanced and telling, and her examination of the issues and of the impact that pervasive corruption has upon the ability of fringe elements to recruit and operate, extremely effective. The author has broken out her analysis into distinctive methods or techniques of corruption; each having in common a “bottom up flow” of monies. Those practicing systemic corruption she identifies as ‘Kleptocracies’ further breaking them down into sub-categories such as: Resource, Post-Soviet, Bureaucratic, Military-Kleptocratic Complex and Vertically Integrated Criminal Syndicates. Each type is explained in detail with examples and facts.

Additionally, Chaye discusses how populations, denied access to legitimate forms of redress due to corrupt officials and entities, are left with no option but revolt as a means of addressing their grievances. Thus, groups such as Boko Haram (the name means roughly Western Education is Forbidden), initially a fringe, self-sustaining community was driven into armed rebellion by the unethical practices of the Nigerian police and bureaucracy. Their name was derived from the fact that Nigerians know their civil service to be absolutely corrupt and also that to get a job within said civil service one has to have a western style degree from a university. Thus irrespective of the logic of their belief, they have equated the corruption with not only the system of government but also the education needed to work within that system. It is critical to the determination of effective responses to these groups that the root causes of their formation be acknowledged and addressed as part of the solution.

Recognizing this, Chaye provides a series of practical actions that governments may take in order to influence the behaviours of corrupt regimes. These multi-faceted approaches run the gambit from aid and financially based approaches to diplomatic and business focused tactics. Unavoidable within these methodologies is the necessity to work in tandem with other nations to ensure a common front.   

While corruption is not the only element facilitating violence, it may certainly be grasped as a medium within which violent reaction amongst the people takes hold and flourishes. Chayes clearly illustrates that fighting fringe elements such as Al-Shabbab and Boko Haram is necessary, however, it is equally as critical to recognize these organizations as indicative of a much deeper malaise: corruption; to treat the symptoms without acknowledging the actual disease will never break the cycle. This book is vital to appreciating the scope and nature of corruption, the potential impact of not addressing it and also methodologies that may be exercised to counter it.

Too Good to Be True: The Rise and Fall of Bernie Madoff - Erin Arvedlund

Title: Too Good to Be True: The Rise and Fall of Bernie Madoff

Author: Erin Arvedlund

eISBN: 978-1-101-13778-9

Publisher: Portfolio

Ebook

 

It may seem odd to review this book when a vast majority within this blog are of a military nature; however, the fundamental reason why I started reviewing books was to provide opportunities to learn from the successes and failures of others and to promote discussion, reflection and learning. The international disaster that was Madoff’s Ponzi scheme provides ample fodder to meet that baseline criteria.

Madoff was convicted in 2009 and sentenced to 150 years in prison for running what was called a ‘Ponzi scheme’ with an estimated value of 60 billion dollars (although exact figures are elusive). A ponzi scheme is when an individual takes money for the purposes of investing and provides  returns on that alleged investment but, in actual fact, never invests the money at all but instead uses new investors to offset the returns for older investors. The scheme collapses when the inflow of capital is not enough to cover the required outflow (especially when investors request a return of their initial capital). It is estimated that Madoff was able to run his scheme for upwards of twenty years or more before it failed in 2008. 

What is of interest to me in this case, is not what Madoff did but how he managed to convince people to disregard all of the warning signs (for indeed there were many) and continue to not only invest but leave their money with him. It is a fascinating study in human psychology that he was able to do this, and from a leadership perspective, a lesson that needs to be reinforced. Madoff was able to get to a point where, regardless of the evidence, people refused to acknowledge that there was a possibility of him being anything but above board. 

How was he able to do this: 

1.      Consistency in moderation: he promised reasonable returns and delivered without fail month after month regardless of the volatility of the market;

2.      He kept a low profile and conducted himself in a conservative manner;

3.      Perceived exclusivity of his clientele;

4.      He developed a very close working relationship with the SEC (Securities Exchange Commission) and ensured his goals were in tandem with theirs as much as possible;

5.      He ensured investors access to their money quickly and without question (usually in 30 days or less);

6.      Made himself very accessible to (certain aspects of) the media;

7.      He maintained an tight air of secrecy around his actual investment processes;

8.      He took advantage of investment traditions within communities (such as the Jewish);

9.      He was very charming and personable (very high EQ – Emotional Quotient) and made people at ease;

10.  He was not pushy or demanding;

11.  He established a number of ‘feeder’ funds that transferred money to his fund exclusively and provided a line of separation between him and the client; and

12.  He maintained a legitimate fund business that acted to distract attention from the ‘personal’ investment fund that he maintained. 

All of these activities (and the list is not exhaustive) were carefully cultivated to guide his investing public and the SEC into a sense of complacency and ease where they would not question his methods, only accept his results. 

People cast aside due diligence and common sense and adopted a herd mentality through: 

1.      A sense of being in a special/exclusive group that people wanted to belong to;

2.      Creating such a track record that it became anathema to question him;

3.      Being lazy and assuming that others had done the due diligence;

4.      Greed;

5.      Intellectual intimidation – not understanding what he was doing and not questioning it; and

6.      His reassuring personality and close relationship with such organizations as the SEC.

 

It is easy to fall into line with what ‘everyone’ is doing and it takes a great deal of personal courage to go against that tide; however, it is critical to “trust but verify” and to follow the adage of Frederick II of Prussia when he stated to a Major who had shown poor judgement: “I made you an officer to know when not to obey orders”. The book itself is a decent rendition of the events surrounding the Madoff case. It is, after all, a fairly simple story despite the smoke and mirrors. The author tends to reiterate the same information throughout the narrative but it is a reasonable read and an excellent lesson to be learned for all.

Devil's Guard - George Robert Elford

Title: Devil's Guard
Author: George Robert Elford
ISBN: 978-0-440-12014-8
Publisher: Dell Publishing
Softcover
Pages: 336
Photos/Maps: 0

Elford's book has become, in the opinion of many, a classic biography of a soldier engaged in asymmetric warfare. The main character,　ex-Waffen SS partisanjaeger Hans Josef Wagemueller, is pro-ported to have met with the author in the far east and to have related his life story to him. The author recounts his tale, with as little change or embellishment as possible, of him leading his German troops west during the last days of the World War 2, escaping to Switzerland and ultimately joining the French Foreign Legion. The main thrust of the narrative centres upon his time with the Legion fighting in Indochina against the Viet Cong as part of an all-German battalion of veterans and his experiences there-in.

The story has generated a great deal of controversy over the years as there is no record of an all-German battalion nor of an individual named Wagemueller ever having fought as part of the Legion. Regardless of whether the story is truth or fiction really is however, beside the point as the lessons to be gleaned from it resonate either way.

Given the experiences that Western forces have had in Afghanistan and Iraq fighting asymmetric opponents, the question of what constitutes acceptable methods of executing a war has again become a central point of discussion and contention. Wagemueller's character in the book takes the position that war is, by its very nature, violent and horrible, but must be fought to win and, in order to do so, the conditions must be established and maintained whereby the side wishing to prevail does what it must to enforce its will upon the population and the enemy. It is a testament for the Real Politique approach to conflict.

Additionally, Elford's narrative translates doctrine into action as he describes through the storyline the how, what, where and why's of a unit doing what it has to in order to win. Wagemueller's character is uncompromising in his rendition of the toll that fighting to win takes upon all of the elements of society involved and, more importantly, the mental strength that soldiers must have in order to do what they have to do. Finally, and perhaps most telling, Wagemueller describes the methods by which his unit was recalled and disbanded as a result of a lack of support from the French government and population. The similarity to the impact of popular opinion on modern warfare is striking.

The story itself reads very well and is extremely engaging; the characters are presented with a human face, not enjoying what they are doing but undertaking it regardless. It is not a comfortable read and will tend to polarize its readers between those agreeing with and those appalled by the actions of the main characters. Its strength, I believe, lies in the fact that it was first published in the early 1970's during the height of the Vietnam conflict and yet, it still retains its relevance today as a means to stimulate healthy debate and discussion amongst military professionals and their leaders.

Terror in the Balkans: German Armies and Partisan Warfare - Ben Shepherd

The information presented was written by Chris Buckham; however, it was published in The Canadian Military History Journal. Therefore, the material is reproduced here by the author with the permission of the Journal. If you would like to republish this information or refer to excerpts please contact CMHJ (kirk.goodlet@canadianmilitaryhistory.ca). Website for the Journal is: http://www.canadianmilitaryhistory.ca/

Title: Terror in the Balkans: German Armies and Partisan Warfare

Author: Ben Shepherd
ISBN: 978-0-674-04891-1
Pages: 342
Publisher: Harvard University Press
Photos/Maps: 16 b/w// 6

Ben Shepherd has written an engaging and very thought-provoking book. Given the relatively recent experiences of the western countries involved in the Yugoslav breakup and the subsequent Bosnian War of the early to mid 1990's, his observations and conclusions bridge the historical gap and provide enticing context for the reader. The similarities between the issues of the Austro-Hungarian period and the period of German occupation relating to intercene rivalries are striking in their close relationship to the modern day events in the region.

Shepherd commences his narrative far before the Second World War, during the period leading up to the First World War, analyzing the makeup of the German/Austro-Hungarian Officer corps. He traces the influences and metamorphoses of the leadership of the Army as it is rapidly expanded beyond its traditional recruiting zone to meet the demands of the First World War, contracted again following the defeat of the Central Powers and then expanded once again as WW2 loomed. What is fascinating about the forty year period with which he introduces his book, is the degree to which he shows the army command being dramatically influenced by the fundamental transformational changes within 'German' (read Austrian and German) nation state and the effect that this has upon, the views and conducts of the junior officers of 1914-1918, transformed into the senior officers of 1939-1945.  

Once he has established this framework, he then delves into the nature and environment of the operations themselves; specifically focusing upon the physical and demographic challenges faced by the Germans as well as the shortcomings associated with their evaluation of the regional issues. Shepherd succinctly relates the evolution of the nature of combat within the region from conventional to asymmetric and is able to convey to the reader the convoluted and confusing nature of the conflict. 

For the modern strategist, a number of lessons may be drawn relating to how and why the Germans enjoyed success in some areas and continued frustration in others. Notably:

a.      The development of hunter groups to track and engage insurgents. The Germans, specifically of the 718th ID, recognizing that they, as an occupation Division, did not have the depth of capability that a normal front line division would have, played to their strengths and developed a concept of highly mobile, well-armed units that would take the fight via swift tactical strikes to the enemy;

b.      The Germans had never been faced with insurgent style of warfare on the scale that they were dealing with in Yugoslavia. Doctrinally, they were not well equipped to deal with how to fight a war of this nature. Therefore their reactions tended to be very heavy handed, generalized and brutal which, while successful to a certain degree, did not facilitate a long term pacification program;

c.       Doctrinally, there did not appear to be a common approach to dealing with the rebels. Thus the success of the hunter group tactics of the 718 ID were not mirrored by other divisions operating within the same region;

d.      As stated above, the Germans had not been faced with a concerted program of resistance before Yugoslavia. They therefore underestimated the forces necessary to keep the region pacified. This lack of resources led the Germans to respond in a number of ways: utilizing surrogate forces such as the Ustacha and Chetniks as well as by overreacting to attacks by judging any civilians in the region as guilty by association and therefore subject to summary judgement. This type of behaviour resulting in a further alienation of the population writ large and an undermining of the credibility of the Wehrmacht as it was seen to be abrogating its authority to groups whose actions were nothing if not more brutal and depraved; and

e.      The Germans divided the command and control of their forces between different regional commands resulting in diverging centres of gravity and an inefficient use of scarce resources. This situation was alleviated later on in the conflict but served to dilute their response power for the early years of the war.

Shepherd identifies six major players in the Yugoslav tapestry: Bosians, Chetniks (Serb resistance), Ustacha (Croat government fighters), Partisans (communist rebels), Italians (occupation forces) and the Germans. The convoluted relationship enjoyed by all of these groups was, to say the least, phenomenally confusing. Each had multiple agenda's and one's enemy today may very well be one's ally tomorrow. This precluded the Germans from developing a consistent long term stabilization strategy as a dearth of resources forced them to rely significantly upon one group or another. Shepherd's relating of this ongoing Gordian Knot saga is commendable.

The author shares his focus between the divisional commanders of the primary German divisions engaged in long term operations within Yugoslavia; their individual histories and influences and the general behaviour of the divisions during their tenure in command. This is very interesting for the reader as it studies the influences that the experiences of the commanders had on their responses to these regional crisis. It is a worthy attempt at connecting the psychological histories of these men with  their command actions.

The book has extensive notes section that provides critical additional information for the reader and a somewhat limited bibliography highlighting primary source material on specific Divisional Commanders. One area that was somewhat distracting was the tendency of the author to make observations relating to extreme forms of behaviour or outlook (such as anti-Semitism or the impact of social Darwinism within the officer ranks) only to mitigate the impact in the next sentence with a moderating comment suggesting that the item should not be over-emphasized.  Also his comments relating to the effects of specialization within the officer corps limiting "out of the box" thinking would appear to be contradicted by the fact that the German army of both the First and Second World Wars displayed considerable ability to improvise.

Overall, I greatly enjoyed this book and feel that it is very worthwhile for aspiring leaders to learn from. The challenges of the Yugoslav region have not changed from one hundred years ago and Shepherd has done a praiseworthy job of making sense out of a tremendously complicated region of World War 2.

Warrior Geeks - Christopher Coker

The information presented was written by Chris Buckham; however, it was published in Soldier Magazine. Therefore, the material is reproduced here by the author with the permission of the magazine. If you would like to republish this information or refer to excerpts please contact the Assistant Editor Soldier Magazine (rclark@soldiermagazine.co.uk). Website for the Magazine is: http://www.army.mod.uk/soldier-magazine/soldier-magazine.aspx

 

Title: Warrior Geeks

Author: Christopher Coker
ISBN: 978-1-84904-254-3
Publisher: Hurst and Company
Hardcover
Pages: 330

Coker’s book focuses on the potential eradication of the Homeric warrior as a result of the advancement of science and technology. That is to say, he discusses the human element of the war fighter being subsumed by biologically and technologically enhanced soldiers, devoid or incapable of the warrior ethos/ethic and the human character that is an inherent part of who we are. This is not an easy read, nor does it leave one feeling particularly comfortable; it is not meant to. It raises disturbing, challenging and fundamental questions that have not been addressed. A very thought provoking book. Recommended.

A Tactical Ethic: Mroral Conduct in the Insurgent Battlespace

Title: A Tactical Ethic: Moral Conduct in the Insurgent Battlespace

Author: Dick Couch

Publisher: Naval Institute Press

Pages: 139

Content: As the nature of the modern battlespace evolves, so too does the requirements of the soldiers and sailors that we put into harms way. The central theme of Mr Couch’s book centres upon the fact that while physical and professional training are central in the development of our personnel, an area that is sorely lacking in attention is the inclusion of moral/ethical training as part of our curricula. The modern asymmetric battlespace no longer centres upon capturing and holding territory from a conventional enemy force. The modern enemy of today more often than not does not wear uniforms, blends in with the local population, may very well be a part of the local population and is not interested in ‘territory’ as a measure of its success. Therefore, Mr Couch highlights the centre of gravity in the modern fight as being the struggle for the people; the proverbial ‘hearts and minds’. He acknowledges the deep challenge associated with this task, not the least of which concerns what we focus on in our Warrior Culture: “the imbalance between what we value as courage and choose to ignore in the way of compassion.” He further emphasises the dynamic of the small unit in terms of trust and cohesiveness and the difficulty that presents when the soldiers and officers are faced with dealing with turning in or addressing morally questionable behaviours of popular or influential members of that unit. Additionally, the effect of modern communication technology on public perception demands greater transparency and awareness. This is a very relevant study to the modern military and how the environment is impacted by the smallest action of our soldiers.

The Last Hill - Spencer Dunmore

Title: The Last Hill 

Author: Spencer Dunmore

Publisher: Pan 

Pages: 188

Content: The Last Hill by Spencer Dunmore touches upon a number of themes centering upon the positives and negatives of crisis leadership. Additionally, he sheds light upon a question rarely explored; at what point does a Commanders actions cross the line between inspired leadership in the defence, and the needless sacrifice of life? By extension, he also raises the question of the roles and responsibilities of subordinate officers and what constitutes a legal command (and therefore obligation to follow). The story centres on a makeshift company of British Infantry as, out of communications, they retreat before the advancing Japanese down the Malaysian peninsula towards Singapore. Finding themselves established in a strong defensive position and under the inspired leadership of an ‘old’ Major, they repel multiple efforts by the Japanese to defeat them; this despite overwhelming odds.  Conflict between a sense of duty and an obligation to the welfare of one’s soldier’s results when the British Commander is presented with information by the Japanese that Singapore has surrendered. What then becomes the responsibility of the Commander and his Officers? An excellent and thought-provoking book.