International Relations and Foreign Policy
Open access
Peer reviewed
Abstract
Abstract
Abstract This research assesses how “will to fight” impacts the ability of African nations to achieve strategic success during periods of increased competition between powerful nations (great powers) and increasing global and transnational threat. Unlike most studies on strategy which focus on the physical assets (material capacity), institutions (governance), and the support received from other nations (external assistance) a new study provides evidence that the will to fight of an African nation has a significant impact on its ability to sustain its deterrent capability, remain strategically open, and resist coercion. Using case studies of four regions (the Sahel, Mali, Cameroon, and the Horn of Africa) the study illustrates how a weak will to fight significantly increases the likelihood of a nation’s military collapsing; increasing reliance on foreign militaries and ultimately reducing the options available for a nation to make strategic decisions. Conversely, when there is a strong will to fight, even in extremely difficult circumstances a nation retains the ability to make strategic choices with respect to both its own military forces and those of other nations. This research contributes to the body of knowledge in military studies by identifying will to fight as a pre-conflict strategic resource that enhances a nation’s deterrence capabilities, the flexibility to align with other nations to meet a variety of strategic objectives, and a nation’s ability to win without engaging in war. The findings of the research provide direct recommendations for defense planners in the United States and other aligned nations regarding their assessment of and investment in will to fight as a critical component of both the development of security partnerships and the design of regional engagement strategies.
Direct answer
What can I do from this paper page?
Use this page to scan "Winning without war in Africa: the will to fight, strategic openness, and great power rivalry" quickly: start with the summary and abstract, then check the authors, source, topics, and related papers. From here, open Scollr to follow International Relations and Foreign Policy research, save the paper, or map adjacent work.
Research areas
Follow related topics
Citation
BibTeX
@article{Edmond2026Winning,
title = {Winning without war in Africa: the will to fight, strategic openness, and great power rivalry},
author = {Chick Edmond},
journal = {SN Social Sciences},
year = {2026},
doi = {10.1007/s43545-026-01814-w},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1007/s43545-026-01814-w}
}FAQ
Using this paper in a discovery workflow
How do I find related work for this paper?
Use the related papers and topic links on this page as starting points. In Scollr, you can also open the paper and build a literature map around its references, citing papers, and related work.
How can I keep up with new International Relations and Foreign Policy research papers?
Follow International Relations and Foreign Policy research in Scollr. New papers from the topic flow into a personalized feed, and you can save useful studies to revisit later.
Can I cite this paper from this page?
This page includes a static BibTeX block for Winning without war in Africa: the will to fight, strategic openness, and great power rivalry. Always verify the DOI, source, and publication details against the publisher record before submitting a manuscript.
Follow this research in Scollr
Follow the topics and authors behind this paper, save useful studies, and build a literature map when you are ready to go deeper.
Get the app