The last fifteen years have yielded a rich literature on structural dimensions of modern-day tactics and operational art, particularly on the challenge posed by information age command and control (C2) technology, decentralized swarming, and irregular opponents.

The linguistic shift of “battleground” to “battlespace” recognizes the current reality of forces operating in a multidimensional battleground against complex opponents. Similarly, many have recognized that in a rapidly urbanizing world, cities will be the main battlefields in fights between military/police units and “hybrid” opponents. “Global cities” such as New York, Tokyo, London, and Mumbai have become prime targets for terrorists, networked insurgents, and criminal organizations. Operations in global cities carry a special weight because of the strategic compression created by globalization, and pervasive communication networks—raising the significance of what would ordinarily be considered purely tactical counterterrorism operations. Continue reading at Small wars journal