The Human Terrain System embedded civilians primarily in brigade combat teams (BCTs) in Iraq and Afghanistan between 2007 and 2014 to act as a collection and dispersal mechanism for sociocultural comprehension. Set against the backdrop of the program's evolution, the experiences of these social scientists clarifies the U.S. Army's decision to integrate social scientists at the tactical level in conflict. Based on interviews, program documents, material from Freedom of Information Act requests, and secondary sources, this book finds a series of limiting factors inhibiting social science research at the tactical level, common to both Iraq and Afghanistan.
Complexity in integrating civilians into the military decision-making cycle, in creating timely research with a high level of fidelity, and in making granular research that resonated with brigade staff all contributed to inhibiting the overall effect of the Human Terrain System. Yet, while high operational tempo in contested spaces complicates social science research at the tactical level, the author argues that there is a continued requirement for a residual capability to be maintained by the U.S. Army.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR CHRISTOPHER J. SIMS has presented research on the Human Terrain System at various international conferences, as well as being an invited speaker on the subject. His examination of the U.S. Army program is part of broader interests in anthropology and insurgencies. Dr. Sims is committed to open access outputs and virtual academies on the principle that making research and teaching freely available enhances the global exchange of knowledge by enabling equal access to scholarship. His work has been published in several journals, including
Foreign Affairs and
Small Wars Journal. Dr. Sims holds a Ph.D. from King's College London.
