Strategy

Beschreibung

Over twenty two centuries ago, the Greek general Pyrrhus questioned the real gains of military victory. Today we might reflect on the recent wars in Iraq and Afghanistan in much the same way. War is not only cruel but capricious; its outcomes are often bitter and frustrating, even for the winning side. Strategy: Key Thinkers expertly introduces the ideas of major strategic thinkers whose work explores the complex challenges associated with the use of military force. Early chapters deal with the foundational work of Sun Tzu (Sunzi), Thucydides, Vegetius, Machiavelli and Carl von Clausewitz and their relevance to problems facing Western militaries today. The book then considers broader issues, such as the distinctive importance of air and maritime operations, the difficulty of waging offensive land warfare in the face of modern firepower, the implications of nuclear weapons, and the potential of irregular warfare. It concludes by highlighting key themes which connect - and distinguish - the works under consideration, noting how these similarities and differences can inform the strategic debates of the early twenty-first century.

Autor*in

Tom Kane

Themen in »Strategy«

Geschichte History Kriegs- u. Friedensforschung Militärgeschichte Military History Political Science Politikwissenschaft War & Peace Studies

Stimmen zu »Strategy«

"Strategic thought moves strategic practice. Tom Kane's outstandingbook explains the enduring relevance of strategic ideas to ourhuman security condition." Colin Gray, University of Reading "A uniquely accessible and profound examination of the foundationsof contemporary strategic thought. This book should be the startingpoint for anyone who wishes to understand the theory of war. Amajor intellectual achievement." Eric Grove, Liverpool Hope University "Thoughtful, engaging, and even entertaining, this first-rate bookdoes far more than just present readers with a list of strategicthinkers and their basic ideas - it explains, clearly andprecisely, why strategy matters. Readers will gain a deeperappreciation of how the practice of strategy influences the fate ofstates, and how strategic failure may carry a terribleprice." Dale Walton, Lindenwood University
()

Details

Link teilen