Strategic and psychological effects of the use of children as weapons of war and their impact on the conduct of British troops on operations.

This project explores the increasing use of children as weapons of war in counter-insurgency (COIN) campaigns and its impact on the conduct of British troops. The employment of child soldiers in war generates significant strategic and psychological effects on soldiers engaged in counter-insurgency operations and a range of different challenges that manifest themselves during and after operations in theatre. The research aims to use a case study analysis approach and engage in extensive fieldwork in the form of semi-structured interviews with British soldiers experienced in COIN operations in Afghanistan and Iraq.