Eastern and Western Perspectives: Strategy and Special Operations 

Author: Adam Leong Kok Wei
Publisher: UPNM Press
ISBN: 9789675985346
Weight: 
Pages: 78pp
Year: 2021
Price: RM80

This study on the practice of special operations and strategy has clearly indicated that civilizations from different geographic areas and ages shared similarities in the practice of special operations. More importantly, their practice of special operations highlighted the political and strategic utility of special operations and its wide usage that transcends cultural bounds. Both Western and Eastern societies had practiced so-called ‘ungentlemanly warfare’ for millenniums employing a combination of guile and deception to conduct assassinations; launching surprise ambushes and raids on enemy forces and camps; using small units to storm and gain entry into fortifications by deception, bribery and ruses; sabotaging enemy material; secretly infiltrating enemy positions to gather intelligence; and running subversion campaigns. This book clearly demonstrates that there is no such Western or Eastern divide in special operations warfare.
Humans are born with the innate nature to fight wars in the most economical and efficient manner. Not surprisingly, humans from all cultures are naturally inclined to practice similar maxims in order to win wars economically and efficiently.