Social Science Goes to War: The Human Terrain System in Iraq and Afghanistan

Description

The Human Terrain System (HTS) was catapulted into existence in 2006 by the US military's urgent need for knowledge of the human dimension of the battlespace in Iraq and Afghanistan. Its centrepiece was embedded groups of mixed military and civilian personnel, known as Human Terrain Teams (HTTs), whose mission was to conduct social science research and analysis and to advise military commanders about the local population. Bringing social science - and actual social scientists - to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan was bold and challenging. Despite the controversy over HTS among scholars, there is little good, reliable source material written by those with experience of HTS or about the actual work carried out by teams in theatre. This volume goes beyond the anecdotes, snippets and blogs to provide a comprehensive, objective and detailed view of HTS. The contributors put the program in historical context, discuss the obstacles it faced, analyse its successes, and detail the work of the teams downrange. Most importantly, they capture some of the diverse lived experience of HTS scholars and practitioners drawn from an eclectic array of the social sciences. Cover Half-title Title Copyright Contents Foreword 1. Introduction: Unveiling the Human Terrain System Origins of the Human Terrain System Innovation from Failure Origin of the Term “Human Terrain” From the Ground Up HTS Mission Statement The Learning Curve Structure of HTS Complexities Program Development Team Lessons Learned Organizational Process Team Lessons Learned Team Tribulations Value of Social Science Controversy Academic Reactions Military Reactions Purpose of the Book Structure of the Book Conclusion 2. Mind the Gap: Bridging the Military/Academic Divide Academic/Military Divide Cultural Gap Connectivity Gap The Academic “Cult of Irrelevance” The “Cult of Major Combat Operations” Science and Technology Portfolio Lack of Coordination Lack of Foreign Area Officers Intelligence System A Perfect Storm New Center of Gravity New Tasks Socio-cultural Knowledge Shortfall Military “Rediscovers” Culture Addressing the Shortfall The Academic/Military Divide Downrange From Policy Relevance to Operational Relevance The Anthropology Backlash Conclusion 3. An Anthropologist at War in Afghanistan What Am I Doing Here? The Base My First Mission An Uncertain Success The Soldiers and the New War Farewell 4. What Do You Bring to the Fight? A Year in Iraq as an Embedded Social Scientist The Qur’an Shooting The Provincial Elections The Sheikhs of Abu Ghraib Conclusion 5. Playing Spades in Al Anbar: A Female Social Scientist Among Marines and Special Forces Professional Beginnings Integrating with the Marines in Iraq The Hit Hospital Study Preparing for Tripoli In the Field At the Special Forces Outpost In Conclusion 6. The Four Pillars of Integration: How to Make Social Science Work in a War Zone Pillar One: Short-term Recommendations Zadran Unity Paving a Road Pillar Two: Medium-term Measures of Effect Term Assessments Measures of Effect Pillar Three: Long-term Analysis of Sources Of Instability Getting Out as Good Governance Pillar Four: Integration with the Host Unit Organization Top to Bottom Integration The Hidden Foundation: Adopting a New Style Conclusion 7. Investing in Uncertainty: Applying Social Science to Military Operations Reconciling Intelligence and Social Science Understanding Variation in Meaning Recognizing the Limits of Military Epistemology Grasping the Etic/Emic Distinction Finding the Meaning of “Social Science” 8. Allied Civilian Enablers and the Helmand Surge Basrah as a Harbinger Blood-curdling Sangin Continuing the Pattern in Afghanistan Civilian Enablers Searching for the Exiles Christmas in Sangin Staying True to Our Beliefs The Heart of the Matter: Conclusions 9. Assessing the Human Terrain Teams: No White Hats or Black Hats, Please Anthropology’s Litany of Shame The Role of Shame in the Human Terrain Commissions on the Engagement of Anthropology with the US Security and Intelligence Communities Debate Concerning “Military Anthropology” Surveying the Human Terrain Motives for Joining HTS Preparation for Work Types of Engagement Ethical Codes Purported Lack of Review Lethal Targeting Identification of Self to Informants Secrecy/Classification Integration with Supported Units Shunning The Future Of HTS Conclusion 10. Tangi Valley: The Limitations of Applied Anthropology in Afghanistan The Military Value of Social Science The Limitations of Applied Anthropology Participation Classification Operational Constraints Mindset of Some Traditional Officers The Case for Socio-political Advisors Conclusion 11. The Human Terrain System: Some Lessons Learned and the Way Forward An Urgent Need Existing Capabilities Conducting an Experiment Amalgamating a Team Obstacles Contractor Crisis Family Feud! HTT Accomplishments HTS Evaluations Internal Assessments External Assessments The Future Of HTS Outside Partners Tackling Other Challenges Appendix: Interview Questions for HTS Personnel Notes Index