Why the Hammer Sees a Nail: Understanding U.S. Military Strategy Development through Narrative Analysis - Counterinsurgency in Afghanistan

Prof. Sara Cobb (Chair)
Prof. Richard Rubenstein
Prof. Andrew Bickford

The purpose of this study is to develop a better understanding of the process of strategy development within the US military, specifically seeking to understand how and why certain approaches are conceptualized, rationalized, and pursued. Through narrative analysis of two specific and seemingly different cases (COIN and Village Stability Operations in Afghanistan) the intent is to illustrate that narrative analysis is an effective and informative tool for understanding how the military makes sense of conflict, develops conflict resolution strategies and ultimately adopts those strategies to mobilize resources. Developing a better understanding of how military planners and leaders make sense of conflict and how narrative is used to diagnose specific instances of conflict, develop military strategies for resolution, and motivate leaders and soldiers to employ those strategies will help both policymakers and conflict resolution professionals better engage with military planners for a more comprehensive, multi-disciplinary approach to US involvement in intrastate conflicts. Additionally, narrative analysis of military strategy processes may help to highlight organizational and cultural biases that potentially constrain available options and reduce the effectiveness of military planning efforts.