The US military’s future in operations other than war

Abstract

The end of the Cold War, the proliferation of “troubled states” and the rise of new kinds of transnational problems is forcing the USA and others to reappraise the nature of national security. This article explores the role of the US military in responding to these new challenges, specifically focusing on military operations other than war (OOTW), ie deterring war, resolving conflict, peacekeeping, nation building, disaster relief and humanitarian assistance. Through a consideration of driving forces and the construction of four scenarios (Turbulent Third Wave, The Dark Side, Global Mind Change and Technology Transformation), the article highlights key findings. Across all scenarios, demand for involvement in OOTW was found to increase substantially between now and 2020.

Citation

Olson, R.I. (1999), "The US military’s future in operations other than war", Foresight, Vol. 1 No. 1, pp. 35-47. https://doi.org/10.1108/14636689910802016