An Empirical Study of Motivation in the Indian Air Force Motivation in the IAF implies dedicated, reliable and sustained performance from the air warriors under most trying and dangerous situations fraught with risks to life. Consequently, the motivational drives and needs of an air warrior will be different from that of a worker, supervisor or manager in a civilian organisation. Motivational aspects in civilian organisations are adequately covered by research and studies. However, no dedicated study has been undertaken to assess motivational drives and needs in respect of air warriors of the IAF. Jagdeep Singh | October 2009 | Journal of Defence Studies
Defence Budgeting: Trends and Issues The defence budget for the financial year 2009-2010, even though in terms of percentage increase appears large, yet it is not actually so. There has generally been a mismatch between the funds asked by the MOD and those allotted by the MOF. The absence of indication of likely availability of funds impacts adversely the defence planning process. Of late, there has been improvement in the ratio of revenue to capital expenditure, but for a healthy ratio there is a need to increase the defence budget as a percentage of the GDP. Vinod Anand | October 2009 | Journal of Defence Studies
China should not use water as a threat multiplier Water may not become a catalyst for a direct conflict, but China could leverage Tibet’s water as a politico-military tool vis-à-vis other riparian states. As the economies of India and China grow, both are bound to treat water as a strategic commodity. P. Stobdan | October 23, 2009 | IDSA Comments
Japan: CBW Japan claims that it does not possess Weapon of Mass Destructions including the Chemical and Biological Weapons. Determined never to revisit war following its disastrous defeat in World War II,… Continue reading Japan: CBW Shamshad A. Khan | October-December 2009 | CBW Magazine
Thinking Change in the Armed Forces History is replete with examples of radical, modest and even failed transformations, thus revealing the fact that the armed forces are intrinsically not flexible enough to accept transformational changes. The prime drivers for change have been the emerging nature of conflict, and the development of cutting edge technologies for war fighting. It is a well known fact that introduction of new ideas and technologies usher in new dynamics and constraints, thus necessitating complementary changes in structures, policies, procedures and practices. Harinder Singh | October 2009 | Journal of Defence Studies
Re-strategizing the AfPak Campaign America’s new strategy in Afghanistan needs to be based on the concept of `connect–hold–build’, where the ground troops surely and silently `connect’ with the local population. Harinder Singh | October 22, 2009 | IDSA Comments
National Security Decision Making Structures in India: Lessons from the IPKF Involvement in Sri Lanka A critical appraisal of the national security decision making (NSDM) during IPKF operations is revealing. At every stage, the NSDM was found wanting. The fact that none of the actors possessed the delicate skill or means by which to control events proved that not much thought had gone into the decisions. Involvement of numerous actors made the decision making challenging, which was further complicated by varied and cacophonous inputs and assessments. Overconfidence also created an opaque in the clarity of decisions taken. Lessons from the IPKF involvement are numerous. N. Manoharan | October 2009 | Journal of Defence Studies
China and Francophone Western Indian Ocean Region: Implications for Indian Interests The cooperation between China and Francophone Western Indian Ocean region is now getting more visible, particularly after the China-Africa summit in November 2006. China's new thrust in the Francophone Western Indian Ocean region was though framed within China's broader Africa policy, however there is indeed the centrality of maritime considerations. China seems to have a higher level of physical presence in the Francophone Western Indian Ocean's various island states than would be warranted by its present levels of trade and other economic activities. Vidhan Pathak | October 2009 | Journal of Defence Studies
India’s Afghan Policy Requires Rethinking Stability in Afghanistan is vital and the stakes for India are high, but the time is over for sitting on the fence. India requires a larger strategic vision, not a blueprint for town and country planning. P. Stobdan | October 19, 2009 | IDSA Comments
Talibanization of Gilgit-Baltistan and Sectarian Killings The year 2009 has seen more sectarian killings in Gilgit-Baltistan than the previous two years put together. Although sniper shooting has remained the primary method of sectarian killings, owing to Taliban influences bomb blasts are also becoming common. Senge H. Sering | October 19, 2009 | IDSA Comments
