So Many Zebras, So Little Time : Ecological Models And Counterinsurgency Operations

Book Description:

Force ratios are an important variable in warfare and in nature. On the Serengeti, large zebra herds are hunted by small prides of lions. But with their overwhelming majority, why donżt the zebras unite and attack the lions? Ecological interactions between predators and their prey are complex. The mathematics underlying different types of survival strategies for attacker and evader have been worked out by ecologists. While not a perfect metaphor, these quantitative ecology models greatly resemble behavioral interactions during counterinsurgency operations. This paper suggests a framework for other researchers to adapt and expand. Indeed, many of the models discussed are common to both ecologists and economists.