An Army of Influence
Eighty Years of Regional Engagement

A thought-provoking analysis of the Australian Army's capacity to change, with a particular focus on the Asia-Pacific region.

Craig Stockings (Edited by), Peter Dennis (Edited by)

9781316514399, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 15 November 2021

352 pages
23.5 x 16 x 2.2 cm, 0.772 kg

The importance of regional cooperation is becoming more apparent as the world moves into the third decade of the 21st century. An Army of Influence is a thought-provoking analysis of the Australian Army's capacity to change, with a particular focus on the Asia-Pacific region. Written by highly regarded historians, strategists and practitioners, this book examines the Australian Army's influence abroad and the lessons it has learnt from its engagement across the Asia-Pacific region. It also explores the challenges facing the Australian Army in the future and provides principles to guide operational, administrative and modernisation planning. Containing full-colour maps and images, An Army of Influence will be of interest to both the wider defence community and general readers. It underscores the importance of maintaining an ongoing presence in the region and engages with history to address the issues facing the Army both now and into the future.

Introduction Ian Langford
Part I. The Concept of an Army's Influence Abroad: 1. Eighty Years of Regional Engagement David Horner
2. The Australian Army through the Lens of Australian Defence White Papers since 1976 Brendan Sargeant
3. Defence Attaché in Indonesia: Lessons from 20 Years Ago Ken Brownrigg
Part II. Lessons from Past Relationships: 4. General Blamey and the Backroom Boys: Colonel Conlon and Army's Adaptation and Access in the Pacific and Asia, 1942-1946 Graeme Sligo
5. 'Not rich in standing armies or immediately available resources': Plans, realities and the Australian Regular Army's deployment to Korea, 1950 Dayton McCarthy
6. Helping the Americans help the Vietnamese? Defence engagement with the RVN, 1955-1975 Tom Richardson
7. East Timor and the crisis of 1999: a case study on the limitations of relationships Craig Stockings
8. Onward & Onya: The involvement, interaction and influence of the New Zealand and Australian Armies Stephen Clarke
Part III. Ongoing Relationships: 9. Access but how much influence? An historical overview of Australia-Indonesia army-to-army cooperation Garth Pratten
10. An Army of Influence: Australia's military engagement with Malaysia 1955–2020 Richard Niessl
11. Cambodia – More than 'a Signals Show' Peter Bartu
12. Was the Juice Worth the Squeeze? Australian Defence Force Investment in Nation Building in Bougainville and the Solomon Islands Reuben Bowd
13. Achieving influence through advising relationships Deborah Jeppesen
14. Training Teams as a Force of Choice: Building Partner Capacity in the Philippines Luke Holloway
15 A perspective on diplomacy in Army's contemporary regional relationship building Fergus McFarlane.

Subject Areas: Military history [HBW]