Illusions of Control: Dilemmas in Managing U.S. Proxy Forces in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Syria

Erica L. Gaston's book Illusions of Control examines the dilemmas of attempting to control proxy forces in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Syria, finding that while tools to constrain partners' behavior increased, they never fully addressed political, security, and legal concerns. It offers new perspectives on U.S. security policy and a novel analytical toolkit for exploring transnational bargaining and foreign policy deliberations in hybrid political environments.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 424 pages
Publication date: 30 July 2024
Publisher: Columbia University Press

The United States has supported a range of militias, rebels, and other armed groups in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Syria over the last two decades, despite criticism that such partnerships can lead to human rights abuses and future threats. Policy makers have sought to mitigate the risks of partnering with irregular armed groups by conducting background checks, instructing leaders about international law and human rights, and cutting funding when red lines are crossed. However, Erica L. Gaston's book Illusions of Control argues that these mechanisms have not fully addressed the range of political, security, and legal concerns surrounding proxy forces. By shifting policy makers' calculations, the use of proxy forces has introduced additional moral hazards and may have enabled riskier decision making. The book offers new perspectives on some of the most significant and controversial elements of recent U.S. security policy and provides a novel analytical toolkit for exploring transnational bargaining and foreign policy deliberations in hybrid political environments.

Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780231210133