Scholar, Pope, Soldier, Spy

In this reading of a number of memoirs and investigative accounts of the world of counterinsurgency, special operations forces, and intelligence, Khalili argues that such warfare advances liberal imperial program for administering intransigent conquered populations modeled on the “enlightened” colonial administration of the British and the French. This liberal imperial program seeks hegemony for a liberal power overseas, where a degree of consent is sought from those who are dominated and intentional mass slaughter of intransigent populations is frowned upon. Liberal warfare invokes humanity, advances civilizing or improving intent often through a discourse of procedural democracy, asserts law and procedure as its domains of action, and claims expertise and knowledge as the basis of rule.