The Unknown Enemy

'Christian Tripodi's highly original intervention into the debates about western counter-insurgencies in Iraq and Afghanistan represents a major contribution. Dr Tripodi perceptively demonstrates that, paradoxically, the quest for anthropological 'understanding' often compounded the predicament in which western counter-insurgents found themselves, rather than alleviating it. It will be required reading for scholars and practitioners alike.' Anthony King, author of Command: The Twenty-First-Century General 'Christian Tripodi underlines the limited degree of control and even influence that intervening great powers can exert over the politics of others and demonstrates with a fine selection of rich case studies just how much fog, friction, and chaos intrude upon the best-laid plans. This book should be read by scholars and practitioners interested in counterinsurgency, state-building, military intervention, peacekeeping, and related areas of endeavour.' Jacqueline H. Hazelton, author of Bullets Not Ballots: Success in Counterinsurgency Warfare 'An important and perceptive post-mortem which links the latest generation of COIN theory and practice firmly in the tradition of Western Imperial hubris, while demonstrating why success in 'political warfare' has proven both so elusive and fragile.' Douglas Porch, author of Counterinsurgency: Exposing the Myths of the New Way of War