Theory of warfare and military science Books

Book SynopsisUntil the introduction of camouflage uniforms, "The King's Coat" dominated the appearance of Western armies. Originally designed for economic reasons, uniforms in the Baroque era served to erase a soldier's individuality in favour of a regimental esprit de corps. Uniforms distinguished soldiers from civilians, and served ceremonial functions at court by representing the absolute power of princes. However, pre-modern manufacturing practices from the limited capacities to dye fabrics uniformly to the individual workmanship of different tailors undermined this ideal of a uniform military appearance just as swiftly as the demands of a campaign, in which uniforms wore out and had to be supplemented by a variety of different garments. This book attempts to explore the history of the military uniform from its origins to the present day. The thematic approach comprises various aspects of military costume, examining materials, function, limits as well as the deliberate modification of uniformity. Topics also include the symbolic character of the uniform, its own assertive potential, and the influence of contemporary fashion. It is a cultural history of military costume which seeks to go beyond the boundaries of fashion alone.

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Book SynopsisIn this re-written classic text, the author provides a critical review of the various different ways in which ethical debates about warfare are already framed, and asks probing questions about how we think about war, and the changes it is undergoing.Trade Reviewunashamedly bold and far-reaching, proudly concerned with the fundamentals of the discipline, making sense where previously there was very little of it. Ian Clark impresses with thorough knowledge of both the military and the philosophical-ethical dimensions of waging war and the ability to bring them together in a fashion that is both conceptual and immediately practical * LSE Review of Books *The book would make an excellent critical introduction for students of the ethics of war and political violence. * Political Studies Review *Table of ContentsIntroduction ; 1. War: Concept and Conduct ; 2. Concepts of Just War ; 3. Concepts of Limited War ; 4. Concepts of Limited War ; 5. War: Symmetries and Asymmetries ; 6. War, Technology, and Conceptual Change ; Conclusion

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Book SynopsisBlending detailed contextual analysis with issues in modern-day international relations this book provides a major new analysis of the theory of Clausewitz and its relevance to contemporary society. This book argues that Clausewitz developed a wide-ranging political theory of war by reflecting on the success, the limitations, and the failure of Napoleon''s method of waging war, a theory, which is still relevant in light of contemporary conflict. This new interpretation is the result of reflecting on Clausewitz''s theory in light of the new developments and lays down the foundation of a general theory of war by concentrating on Clausewitz''s historical analyses of war campaigns. For the first time analysis of three paradigmatic military campaigns is placed at the centre of understanding surrounding Clausewitz''s ''On War'': The author argues that the limitations of Napoleon''s strategy, as revealed in Russia and in his final defeat, enabled Clausewitz to develop a general theory of war. This book is a project of the Oxford Leverhulme Programme on the Changing Character of War.Trade Review'For those who have a strong interest in and a deep understanding of Clausewitz's theory, this book is stimulating, thought-provoking and valuable.' * Bill Bentley, Canadian Military Journal *'Clausewitz's Puzzle will undoubtedly generate more healthy debate throughout military and security communities. It would also make an excellent text at War Colleges and post-graduate courses in international relations, security studies, military history, even philosophy.' * Bill Bentley, Canadian Military Journal *Both slender volumes (that of Echevarria and Herberg-Rothe) are weighty and incisive contributions to our understanding of the dead Prussian's work, who like none other continues to form our own thinking of war * RUSI, Dec 2007, Vol. 152, No. 6 *Table of ContentsPART I PROLOGUE ; PART II ANTI-THESES AND AMBIVALENCES ; 1. Clausewitz and Napoleon: Jena, Moscow, and Waterloo ; 2. Violence, Fear, and Power: The Expansion and Limitation of War ; 3. Concepts of Absolute and real War ; PART III USING CLAUSEWITZ TO GO BEYOND CLAUSEWITZ ; 4. Clausewitz's legacy: the Trinity ; 5. Polarity and Asymmetry Between Attack and Defence ; 6. The Formula: Politics in War

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Book SynopsisWhile many scholars agree that Clausewitz''s On War is frequently misunderstood, almost none have explored his methodology to see whether it might enhance our understanding of his concepts. This book lays out Clausewitz''s methodology in a brisk and straightforward style. It then uses that as a basis for understanding his contributions to the ever growing body of knowledge of war. The specific contributions this study addresses are Clausewitz''s theories concerning the nature of war, the relationship between war and politics, and several of the major principles of strategy he examined. These theories and principles lie at the heart of the current debates over the nature of contemporary conflict. They also underpin much of the instruction that prepares military and civilian leaders for their roles in the development and execution of military strategy. Thus, they are important even in circles where Clausewitz is only briefly studied. While understanding On War is no more a prerequisite fTrade ReviewClausewitz and Contemporary War is a thorough analysis that may be useful not only to the military but also to historians, political scientists, and politicians. * Bruno Colson, War in History *Antulio Echevarria's Clausewitz and Contemporary War builds on his significant writings on the work and influence of the Prussian theorist... Echevarria has provided one of the more useful contributions to the Clausewitz canon. * Thomas Bruscino, Joint Forces Quarterly *Echevarria argues that On War is most readily understood once its 'combat-centric' nature is recognized... Clausewitz intended to write a book that would be useful to fighting soldiers... and Echevarria's analysis is basically a demonstration of how On War stacks up once that ambition is taken seriously. * Daniel Moran, Journal of Military History *Antulio Echevarria is an example of the tradition of military historians who were at once interested in war and strategy; and he can tick the box of the (in this context) indispensible knowledge of German and of the historical understanding of German (especially Prussian) culture in the early nineteenth century. * Beatrice Heuser, RUSI *Table of ContentsIntroduction ; I. ON WAR'S PURPOSE AND METHOD ; 1. A Search for Objective Knowledge ; 2. Validating Concepts and Principles ; II. THE NATURE AND UNIVERSE OF WAR ; 3. War is more than a Chameleon ; 4. Policy, Politics, and Political Determinism ; 5. Genius, Giving the Rule to Art ; III. STRATEGY, BALANCING PURPOSE AND MEANS ; 6. Combat, War's Only Means ; 7. Strategic Principles ; 8. Center of Gravity ; Conclusion

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Book SynopsisClausewitz''s On War has, at least until very recently, been regarded as the most important work of theory on its subject. But since the end of the Cold War in 1990, and even more since the 9/11 attacks on the United states in 2001, an increasing number of commentators have argued that On War has lost its analytical edge as a tool for understanding war. They have argued that Clausewitz was concerned solely with inter-state war and with properly defined armies, and that the sorts of conflicts which he discussed are therefore part of a historical pattern which dominated Europe between 1648, the end of the Thirty Years War, and 1990 itself. Some have gone further, and suggested that Clausewitz''s best known aphorism, that war is a continuation of policy by other means, is not only irrelevant today but also inapplicable historically. Clausewitz in the Twenty-First Century reconsiders the principal themes in Clausewitz''s writings from a contemporary perspective, and finds in them much moreTrade ReviewA closer reading of Clausewitz gives rise to the following implications for warfare in the 21st century. First, the war on terror, as with all wars, is irreversibly political in nature, and requires a decidedly political approach. (...) Second, globalization intensifies the role of politics, and indeed reduces reaction time within all three elements of Clausewitz's wondrous trinity, which is quite different from so called trinitarian war and which is Clausewitz's true legacy. Third, policys subordinating influence over warfare suggests that the overarching political goal for grand strategy in the 21st century should be the containment of violence, with the intent to diminish armed conflict as precondition for establishing democracies. * worldsecurity network *Table of ContentsForeword: Clausewitz On War: a History of the Howard-Paret Translation - ; Introduction ; 1. Clausewitz and the Dialectics of War ; 2. Clausewitz and the Non-Linear Nature of War: Systems of Organized Complexity ; 3. Clausewitz's On War: Problems of Text and Translation ; 4. The Primacy of Policy and the 'Trinity' in Clausewitz's Mature Thought ; 5. The Instrument: Clausewitz on Aims and Objectives in War ; 6. Moral Forces in War ; 7. War as 'Art': Aesthetics and Politics in Clausewitz's Social Thinking ; 8. Clausewitz's Ideas of Strategy and Victory ; 9. On Defence as the Stronger Form of War ; 10. Clausewitz and Small Wars ; 11. Clausewitz and the Nature of the War on Terror ; 12. Clausewitz and the Privatization of War ; 13. Clausewitz and Information Warfare ; 14. Clausewitz and the Two Temptations of Modern Strategic Thinking ; 15. Civil-Military Relations and Democracies ; 16. Clausewitz and a New Containment: the Limitation of War and Violence

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Book SynopsisWhat significance does ethics have for the men and women serving in the military forces of nations around the world? What core values and moral principles collectively guide the members of this military profession? This book explains these essential moral foundations, along with just war theory, international relations, and international law. The ethical foundations that define the Profession of Arms have developed over millennia from the shared moral values, unique role responsibilities, and occasional reflection by individual members the profession on their own practices - eventually coming to serve as the basis for the Law of Armed Conflict itself.This book focuses upon the ordinary men and women around the world who wear a military uniform and are committed to the defense of their countries and their fellow citizens. It is about what they do, how they do it, what they think about it, how they behave when carrying out their activities, and how they are expected to behave, both on and off the battlefield (whether in, or out of, uniform) - and what everyone (and not just military personnel themselves) needs to know about this. The book also examines how military personnel are treated and regarded by those whom they have sworn to defend and protect, as well as how they treat and regard one another within their respective services and organizational settings. Finally, the book discusses the transformations in military professionalism occasioned by new developments in armed conflict, ranging counterinsurgency warfare and humanitarian military intervention, to cyber conflict, military robotics, and private military contracting. From China to Russia, author George Lucas effectively sheds light on today''s military ethics in existence throughout the world. What Everyone Needs to Know is a registered trademark of Oxford University Press.Trade Reviewmorality and mortal combat get paired up in this highly readable academic argument for fair play on the modern battlefield * History of War *George Lucas offers a clear picture of what we should expect from our military forces * Steve Craggs, Northern Echo *Table of ContentsDedication Acknowledgements Foreword: General John R. Allen, U.S. Marine Corps (retired) Introduction: Why Military Ethics? Part One: The Moral Foundations of the Military Profession Chapter 1: Ethics and the Profession of Arms Chapter 2: Military Ethics and International Law Chapter 3: The Ancient Origins of Military Ethics Chapter 4: Military Ethics and the "Just War Tradition" Chapter 5: Military Ethics Apart from Combat Part Two: Ethical Challenges Facing the Military Profession Chapter 6: The Ethics of Defense and Private Security Contracting Chapter 7: Military Interventions for Humanitarian Relief Chapter 8: Military Ethics and Unmanned Systems Chapter 9: Military Ethics and Cyber Security Epilogue: Reconsidering Ethics with the Profession of Arms Additional Expressions of Gratitude Index

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Book SynopsisBroadly defined as the grey area between strategy and tactics, operational art spans the theory and practice of planning and conducting campaigns and major operations aimed at accomplishing strategic and operational objectives in a given theatre of operations. An intermediate link between strategy and tactics has always existed, but a distinct concept that encompasses a systematic and deliberate plan of campaign for major operations is a mere two hundred years old. Based on country specific case-studies, this book describes how the concepts that underpin operational art originated, how they received practical expression in various campaigns, and how they developed over time. The point of departure is the campaigns of ''the God of War'', Napoleon Bonaparte. The book then proceeds with chapters on the evolution of operational art in Prussia / Germany, the Soviet Union / Russia, the United Kingdom, United States, Israel, and China. The final chapter deals with the future of operational arTable of ContentsContents ; List of Abbreviations ; Preface ; Prologue ; Introduction ; 1. Napoleon and the Dawn of Operational Warfare ; 2. Prussian-German Operational Art, 1740-1943 ; 3. The Tsarist and Soviet Operational Art, 1853-1991 ; 4. Operational Art and Britain, 1909-2009 ; 5. American Operational Art, 1917-2008 ; 6. The Rise and Fall of Israeli Operational Art, 1948-2008 ; 7. Operational Art in China ; 8. Conclusion ; Epilogue ; Notes ; Selected Bibliography ; Index ; Biographical Notes

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Book SynopsisThere are many histories of how wars have begun, but very few which discuss how they have ended. This book fills that gap. Beginning with the Stone Age and ending with globalized terrorism, it addresses the specific issue of surrender, rather than the subsequent establishment of peace. At its heart is the individual warrior or soldier, and his or her decision to lay down arms. In the ancient world surrender led in most cases to slavery, but a slave still lived rather than died. In the modern world international law gives the soldiers rights as prisoners of war, and those rights include the prospect of their eventual return home. But individuals can surrender at any point in a war, and without having such an effect that they end the war. The termination of hostilities depends on a collective act for its consequences to be decisive. It also requires the enemy to accept the offer to surrender in the midst of combat. In other words, like so much else in war, surrender depends on reciprocitTrade Review[the] accumulation of research remains admirably comprehensive and it can serve as a highly valuable reference work as well as a volume of stimulating and thought-provoking essays. It certainly demands to be widely cited. Thus with some twenty-seven leading scholars covering the period from prehistoric tribal societies to modern-day terrorism, this impressive volume clearly fills an important gap. Sean McGlynn, HistoryTable of ContentsPART I: NO QUARTER? THE BEGINNINGS OF SURRENDER; PART II: LEARNING TO SURRENDER? THE MIDDLE AGES; PART III: THE DEVELOPMENTS OF RULES AND REGULATIONS: SURRENDER IN EARLY MODERN TIMES; III.A. SURRENDER IN INTERCULTURAL WARS; III.B.: SURRENDER IN EARLY MODERN EUROPE; PART IV: A QUESTION OF HONOUR: SURRENDER IN SEA WARFARE; PART V: THE TIMES OF INTERNATIONAL LAW: SURRENDER IN MODERN WARS; V.A. THE 19TH CENTURY; V.B. SURRENDER IN WORLD WAR I; PART VI: UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER? WORLD WAR II; VI A. 'CONVENTIONAL' SURRENDERS; VI B. GERMANY AND JAPAN IN WORLD WAR II; PART VII: OUR TIMES: ASYMMETRIC WARS - ENDLESS WARS AND NO SURRENDER?

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Book SynopsisThis volume in the Praeger Security International (PSI) series Classics of the Counterinsurgency Era was among the first major published analyses by an American expert on the insurgency in Indochina.Table of ContentsPreface to the Revised Edition Preface to the First Edition Acknowledgments Foreword Introduction Vietminh Military Doctrine and the War The Vietminh Military Organization Vietminh Personnel and Logistics Vietminh Operations and Tactics Vietminh Reactions to French Tactics and Air Power The Rise of the Viet Cong The Viet Cong Military American Military Participation and the Viet Cong Epilogue Selected Bibliography

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Book SynopsisFearing an imminent invasion, Israel launched a preemptive air attack on Egypt in June 1967 and it achieved such staggering devastation that in just six days the war was won and future of the Middle East was forever changed. This book provides an account of the Six-Day War. It investigates documents and testimonies from the former Soviet Union.Trade Review"'Here is a book that is truly revisionist, challenging what we thought we knew about the origins and conduct of the Six-Day War, Israel's crushing victory over Egypt, Jordan, and Syria 40 years ago. The exact role played by the Soviet Union has always been murky. The authors work their way through the murk, meticulously using every snippet of relevant information from an extraordinary range of sources.' Lawrence D. Freedman, Foreign Affairs (included in its list of outstanding new books). 'Ginor and Remez, an enterprising pair of Jerusalem researchers who have been trawling Soviet archives and double-agents, explain the war as a Kremlin plot gone wrong... It's a terrifying story, thoroughly sourced, and much of it is entirely new... If you want to grasp the background to tonight's 10 o'clock news, read this groundbreaking book.' Norman Lebrecht, Evening Standard"

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Book SynopsisDiscusses and examines the arguments traditionally put forward as explanations for the First World War. The book concludes with an alternative proposition for explaining the War, based on elites and coteries, their background and training, and on their unique agendas.Trade ReviewReview of the hardback: '[A] fine work … Each of the chapters in this work examines how a particular country came to the decision to go to war, and will thus make welcome teaching vehicles for students and lecturers alike.' History TodayReview of the hardback: 'Goldman's excellent book … provides a clearly argued analysis both of the key role that women played in Soviet industrialisation and of the tensions between the different actors involved in that project - ordinary workers, managers, Party and trade union officials, and women activists.' The Economic History ReviewReview of the hardback: 'This is a fascinating book whose coherence and focus, together with helpful introductions and conclusions by the editors, offers comparative conclusions about the major and minor powers' motivations for joining the war.' War in HistoryTable of Contents1. World wars: definition and causes Richard F. Hamilton and Holger H. Herwig; 2. The European wars: 1815–1913 Richard F. Hamilton; 3. Serbia Richard C. Hall; 4. Austria-Hungary Graydon A. Tunstall, Jr.; 5. Germany Holger H. Herwig; 6. Russia David Alan Rich; 7. France Eugenia C. Kiesling; 8. The United Kingdom J. Paul Harris; 9. Japan Frederick R. Dickinson; 10. The Ottoman empire Ulrich Trumpener; 11. Italy Richard F. Hamilton and Holger H. Herwig; 12. Bulgaria, Romania and Greece Richard C. Hall; 13. The United States John M. Cooper, Jr.; 14. Why did it happen? Holger H. Herwig; 15. On the origins of the catastrophe Richard F. Hamilton; Appendix A. Chronology; Appendix B. Dramatis personae; Appendix C. Suggested readings.

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Book SynopsisAexamination of the `nuts and bolts' of war, the vast problems of movement and supply, transportation and administration, from the seventeenth century to the Second World War, offering, in effect, a reinterpretation of modern military history.Trade Review'Military buffs, even those who disagree with the author's conclusions, will find this an original and stimulating work.' Business Week'I recommend this work for every professional army officer, but particularly those in the operational field who are used to moving units with the stroke of a grease pencil.' Major Michael D. Krause, Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff'Impeccable scholarship and major new interpretations characterize this work destined to become a classic in military history.' Technology and Culture'This slim volume, unique of its kind, not only iterates the value of the study of logistics to the understanding of any war, any campaign, or any battle, but presents significant historical reinterpretations and revisions on practically every page.' The American Historical Review'… interesting … makes a major contribution to the knowledge of a little researched aspect of warfare … the time span covered by the book from the Marlborough campaign to Patton's advance is undoubtedly a tour de force.' Open HistoryTable of ContentsIntroduction; 1. The background of two centuries; 2. 'An army marches on its stomach!'; 3. When demigods rode rails; 4. The wheel that broke; 5. Russian roulette; 6. Sirte to Alamein; 7. War of the accountants; 8. Logistics in perspective.

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Book Synopsis'Can a Christian answer the empire's call to military duty and still answer a clear conscience before God? Fifth-century philosopher, St Augustine of Hippo, sought to provide a solution to the two problems. This title also identifies the effect of the Augustinian legacy upon medieval and modern philosophical reflections on the nature of warfare.Trade Review"This is a work that is definitely needed... I predict it will become a standard." Paul Vincent Spade, Indiana University Blurb from reviewer"Table of ContentsPreface; Ch. 1: St Augustine and the Just War Tradition; Ch. 2: Augustine's Just War Theory; Ch. 3: Philosophical Influences on Augustine's Just War Theory: Neo-Platonism; Ch. 4: Philosophical Influences on Augustine's Just War Theory: Christianity; Ch. 5: St Augustine's Theory and Beyond; Bibliography; Index.

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Book SynopsisIn 'The Roots of War and Terror', Anthony Stevens provides profound insights into the nature and origins of armed conflict. Combining the concepts of the archetype and the collective unconscious (Jungian) with crucial evidence from the behavioural and biological sciences, Stevens exposes war as an ancient propensity rooted in human psychology - particularly in the psychology and anatomy of the human male.Stevens explains what attracts men to the profession of arms and describes the age-old techniques, still used in military training camps, which are necessary to activate the warrior archetype in the masculine psyche. The author sheds light on how leaders persuade populations to go to war and lays bare the unconscious fantasies that could draw us all to final Armageddon.In later chapters in his book, Stevens discusses ways of inhibiting the archetypes of war (through educational policy and admission of women into the citadels of masculine power) of diverting them into less destructive cTrade ReviewA summary of the book is included in an article on war and terrorism. -San Francisco Chronicle, 5/9/04 -- William S. Kowinski * San Francisco Chronicle *Table of Contents1. War and Peace; 2. Warlike and Peaceful Behaviour; 3. Basic War; 4. Making Warriors; 5. Making Love; 6. Making War; 7. Making Peace; 8. Transcending War

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Book SynopsisProvides a study that identifies the fundamental Augustinian premises and evaluates them in light of historical, neo-Platonic, and Christian contexts. This book also identifies the effect of the Augustinian legacy upon medieval and modern philosophical reflections on the nature of warfare and on how war might be waged justly and morally.Trade Review"'This is a work that is definitely needed... I predict it will become a standard.' - Paul Vincent Spade, Indiana University"Table of ContentsPreface; Ch. 1: St Augustine and the Just War Tradition; Ch. 2: Augustine's Just War Theory; Ch. 3: Philosophical Influences on Augustine's Just War Theory:; Neo-Platonism; Ch. 4: Philosophical Influences on Augustine's Just War Theory:. Christianity; Ch. 5: St Augustine's Theory and Beyond; Bibliography; Index.

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Book SynopsisThis textbook provides a comprehensive introduction to the study of international diplomacy, covering both theory and practice. The third edition has been updated and revised, with new chapters on the digital turn, contemporary crises and power shifts in modern diplomacy.By integrating historical traditions from Europe, China, and the Middle East with modern diplomatic challenges, this book: Traces the evolution of diplomacy from its historical foundations to its modern institutionalised form, examining how shifting power dynamics, technological revolutions, and geopolitical crises have shaped its trajectory. Examines theoretical perspectives on diplomacy as a communicative practice, exploring how diplomats interpret and project power, negotiate international norms, and sustain diplomatic agency in an increasingly fragmented world order. Analyses diplomacy in the digital age, investigating how new technologies, social media, and artificial intelligence reshape diplomatic interactions, redefine state and non-state engagement, and challenge traditional diplomatic norms in a rapidly evolving global information environment. This new edition offers an up-to-date, accessible and authoritative overview of how diplomacy works and, indeed, ought to work in a globalized world. It will be essential reading for students of international diplomacy, and highly recommended for students of crisis negotiation, international organisations, foreign policy and International Relations.

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Book SynopsisThis book examines the normalisation of Private Military and Security Companies, and analyses US media discourse around the Nisour Square incident in Iraq as a pivotal case.States are increasingly relying on private military and security companies (PMSCs) to meet security needs. As a sign of ongoing normalisation, these companies are now increasingly targeted by soft law or self-regulation. Rejecting the common claim that âmercenaries have always been with usâ, this book sets out to analyse the underlying conditions that have allowed PMSCs to emerge in their uniquely contemporary incarnation. Divided into two parts, the book develops a novel poststructural framework of analysis to articulate social, political and affective conditions that enabled PMSCs to prevail despite controversy. It draws on and operationalizes their logics-based approach, while developing it further with corpus linguistics, and applies this framework to a large corpus of American mainstream media articles. The volume contributes to efforts aiming to overcome the alleged âmethodological deficitâ of discourse analysis, while highlighting the importance of making unconsciously held truths visible.This book will be of interest to students of private security companies, military studies, critical security studies and International Relations.

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Book SynopsisThis book examines the complex interactions amongst states and security apparatuses in the contemporary global order, and the prospect of peace with the emergence of cyberwarfare. Analysing why states consider cyberspace as a matter of security/strategic concerns, it looks forward to a possible foundation of âcyberpeaceâ in the international system. It examines the idea of cyber-territory, population, governance, and sovereignty, along with that of nation states referring to great, middle, and small powers.The book explores the strategic and security aspects of cyberspace along with the rational behaviours of states in the domain. It explains the militarisation and weaponisation of cyber technologies for strategic purpose and traces the progression of cyber conflict and its impact on global stability. The last section of the book examines the possibility of building peace in cyber domain with the endeavours of the international community to safeguard cyber sovereignty and promote stability in the digital sphere.It also discusses Indiaâs position on digital security, cyberwarfare, and the pursuit of cyberpeace. The book offers valuable insights for students, researchers, practitioners, stakeholders working in and on military and strategic affairs, peace and conflict studies, and global politics, as well as interested general readers.

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Book SynopsisRetrieving the older but surprisingly neglected language of household governance, Economy of Force offers a radical new account of the historical rise of the social realm and distinctly social theory as modern forms of oikonomikos - the art and science of household rule. The techniques and domestic ideologies of household administration are highly portable and play a remarkably central role in international and imperial relations. In two late-colonial British 'emergencies' in Malaya and Kenya, and US counterinsurgencies in Vietnam, Afghanistan and Iraq, armed social work was the continuation of oikonomia - not politics - by other means. This is a provocative new history of counterinsurgency with major implications for social, political and international theory. Historically rich and theoretically innovative, this book will interest scholars and students across the humanities and social sciences, especially politics and international relations, history of social and political thought, hTrade Review'This is a genuinely groundbreaking piece of work. It presents a serious and sophisticated challenge to the broad spectrum of international theories and more generally to the domain of social science.' Kimberley Hutchings, Queen Mary University of London'Finally, a definitive work that traces the historical emergence and imperial deployment of the 'social'. With meticulous care and scholarly precision, Owens uncovers how the concept of the social has been put in service of imperial militaries around the world, revealing that 'armed social work' became a dominant tactic of counterinsurgency. Rather than an innocuous notion or neutral object of investigation, the very idea of the 'social' has been a tool of empire. This path-breaking work is a must read for anyone interested in social science, militaries, empires and postcolonial studies.' Julian Go, Boston University, Massachusetts and author of Patterns of Empire'In this breathtaking work, Owens unsettles the field of International Relations and contributes enormously to Political Theory as well. Contra realist and liberal traditions, she says the moderation of violence and provision of basic needs in modern society has been the fundamental basis of household rule, not political freedom. From this radical vantage point, Owens documents the operations of counterinsurgency in Malaya, Kenya, Vietnam, Afghanistan and Iraq to offer an entirely new angle on so-called 'armed social work'. Almost no assumptions about humanitarianism, resistance, war, realism, women's rights, the social, or the political remains untouched by her powerful genealogical analysis.' Bonnie Honig, Nancy Duke Lewis Professor of Political Science, Brown University, Rhode Island'Economy of Force reveals the deep entanglement of counterinsurgency with a depoliticizing construct of the social that has motivated, guided, and justified almost two centuries of bloody and failed wars of pacification. Weaving together a compelling account of political theory from Aristotle to Weber and beyond with incisive case studies of counterinsurgencies, Owens shows how a concept of the social modelled on the domestic sphere has blinded counterinsurgent strategists to the politics of their adversaries, initiating a range of 'domestic' approaches from so-called armed social work to the planned destruction of villages and mass internment of civilians in the gulag utopias of imperial social planners. This is a compelling and important book for a wide range of fields, as well as for anybody concerned by the seemingly unstoppable compulsion of western states to carry out tragic and brutal interventions around the world.' Andrew Zimmerman, George Washington University, Washington DC'In this imaginative and stimulating text, Owens elucidates the devastating erasure of politics via tropes and practices of 'household administration' that allows for the violence and viciousness of counterinsurgencies to be reinterpreted as 'armed social work'.' Laleh Khalili, School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London'This is a wickedly smart and a very much needed book … radical and disorienting in the very best sense.' Dustin Ells Howes, David J. Kriskovich Distinguished Professor of Political Science, Louisiana State University'Through a combination of historical perspective on the colonial world and contemporary inquiry into the imperial enterprise, Economy of Force invites us to rethink the laws of warfare and politics of counterinsurgency by paying attention to the pacification of local populations understood as a form of domestication. It thus unveils the genealogy of the blurred line between military and humanitarian interventions.' Didier Fassin, coeditor of Contemporary States of EmergencyTable of Contents1. Introduction: oikonomia in the use of force; 2. The really real? A history of 'social' and 'society'; 3. Out of the confines of the household?; 4. The colonial limits of society; 5. 'More than concentration camps': the battle for hearths in two late-colonial emergencies; 6. Society itself is at war: new model pacification in Vietnam; 7. Oikonomia by other means: counterinsurgency in Afghanistan and Iraq; 8. Conclusion: 'it's the oikos, stupid'.

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Book SynopsisWhat role does ethics play in modern-day warfare? Is it possible for ethics and militarism to exist hand-in-hand? James Eastwood examines the Israeli military and its claim to be ''the most moral army in the world''. This claim has been strongly contested by human rights bodies and international institutions in their analysis of recent military engagements in the West Bank, Gaza and Lebanon. Yet at the same time, many in Israel believe this claim, including the general public, military personnel and politicians. Compiled from extensive research including interviews with soldiers, Eastwood unpacks the ethical pedagogy of the Israeli military, as well as soldier-led activism which voices a moral critique, and argues that the belief in moral warfare doesn''t exist separately from the growing violence of Israel''s occupation. This book is ideal for those interested in military ethics and Israeli politics, and provides crucial in-depth analysis for students and researchers alike.Table of ContentsIntroduction: 'the most moral army in the world'; 1. Militarising the ethical turn; 2. 'The Spirit of the IDF'; 3. 'Keeping a human image': military ethical pedagogy in the IDF; 4. 'Meaningful service': ethics and pedagogy at pre-military academies in Israel; 5. Between guilt and anxiety: collecting testimony in Breaking the Silence; 6. 'Creating a moral conversation': the public activism of Breaking the Silence; Conclusion: towards an anti-militarist ethics.

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Book SynopsisWhat makes a war just? What makes a specific weapon, strategy, or decision in war just? The tradition of Just War Theory has provided answers to these questions since at least 400 AD, yet each shift in the weapons and strategies of war poses significant challenges to Just War Theory. This book assembles renowned scholars from around the world to reflect on the most pressing problems and questions in Just War Theory, and engages with all three stages of war: jus ad bellum, jus in bello, and jus post bellum. Providing detailed historical context as well as addressing modern controversies and topics including drones, Islamic jihad, and humanitarian intervention, the volume will be highly important for students and scholars of the philosophy of war as well as for others interested in contemporary global military and ethical issues.Table of ContentsIntroduction Larry May; Part I. Historical Background: 1. Just War tradition in Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages John Mark Mattox; 2. Grotius and the early modern tradition Johan Olsthoorn; Part II. Initiating a Just War: 3. State defense Yitzhak Benbaji; 4. Just cause Uwe Steinhoff; 5. The condition of last resort Suzanne Uniacke; 6. The moral problems of asymmetric war Steve Lee; Part III. Conducting a Just War: 7. Individual self-defense in war Lionel McPherson; 8. Distinction and civilian immunity Shannon French; 9. Proportionality and necessity in Bello Jovanna Davidovic; 10. Weighing civilian lives: domestic versus foreign Saba Bazargan-Forward; 11. Drone warfare and the principle of discrimination Eric Joseph Ritter; Part IV. Just War and International Legal Theory: 12. Jus ad Bellum Larry May; 13. The basic structure of Jus in Bello Jens David Ohlin; 14. Necessity and proportionality in international law Adil Haque; 15. Humanitarianism: neutrality, impartiality, and humanity Elizabeth Lanphier; 16. The challenge to the laws of war by Islamic Jihad Shannon Fyfe; Afterword Henry Shue.

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Book SynopsisJim Storr is a former British Army officer.He is now an independent defence consultant.He studied Civil Engineering before joining the Army and serving in the British Army of the Rhine for much of the 1980s.Amongst a series of staff and regimental appointments in the Falkland Islands, Northern Ireland and Cyprus he studied at the Royal Military College of Science and the Army Staff College at Camberley.He was a military adviser to operational research teams before spending more than four years writing and teaching high-level military doctrine.In 2002 he was awarded a doctorate for a thesis on the nature of military thought.In his second career his main activates are consultancy, research, writing and teaching.He has spoken at, or chaired, a number of national and international conferences.His clients include defence industrial corporations, research agencies and universities.He is a visiting fellow of the Defence College of Management and Technology, Cranfield University and anhonoraryTable of ContentsFigures; Abbreviations; Foreword; Series Editors' Preface; Introduction; 1. Art or Science?; 2. Developing an Approach; 3. The Nature of Combat; 4. Tools and Models; 5. Shock and Surprise; 6. Tactics and Organizations; 7. Commanding the Battle; 8. The Soul of an Army; 9. Regulators and Ratcatchers; 10. The Human Face of War; Notes; Bibliography; Index.

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Book SynopsisAn exploration of the Japanese military tradition—and how these ancient martial strategies still inform modern behaviorMilitary rule and the martial tradition of the samurai dominated Japanese culture for more than eight hundred years. According to Thomas Cleary—translator of more than thirty-five classics of Asian philosophy—the Japanese people have been so steeped in the way of the warrior that some of the manners and mentality of this outlook remain embedded in their individual and collective consciousness.Cleary shows how well-known attributes such as the reserve and mystery of formal Japanese behavior are deeply rooted in the ancient strategies of the traditional arts of war. Citing original Japanese sources that are popular among Japanese readers today, he reveals the hidden forces behind Japanese attitudes and conduct in political, business, social, and personal life.

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Book SynopsisWar Transformed: The Future of Twenty-First-Century Great Power Competition and Conflict provides insights for those involved in the design of military strategy, and the forces that must execute that strategy. Emphasizing the impacts of technology, new era strategic competition, demography, and climate change, Mick Ryan uses historical as well as contemporary anecdotes throughout the book to highlight key challenges faced by nations in a new era of great power rivalry. Just as previous industrial revolutions have advanced societies, the nascent fourth industrial revolution will have a similar impact on how humans fight, compete, and build military power in the twenty-first century. After reviewing the principle catalysts of change in the security environment, War Transformed seeks to provide a preview of the shape of war and competition in the twenty-first century. Ryan examines both the shifting character of war and its enduring nature. In doing so, he proposes important trends in warfare that will shape all aspects of human competition and conflict in the coming decades. The remainder of the book analyzes how military institutions must prepare for future competition and conflict. Competing and engaging in combat in this new era involves new and evolved strategies and warfighting concepts, as well as adapting our current military organizations. It will also demand building an intellectual edge in military personnel through evolved concepts of training, education, and development. As the competitive environment and potential battlefields continue to change, conceptions of combat, competition and conflict must also evolve. Mick Ryan makes the case for transforming how Western military institutions view war in this century.Trade Review“In a sweeping review of war and strategy, from Thucydides and Sun Tzu to Clausewitz, Fuller, Cohen, Qiao and Wang, Ryan distills accelerating trends affecting the character of war to make a compelling case for a rejuvenation of the profession of arms to face the challenges of the Fourth Industrial Revolution and renewed great power contestation.” —John Blaxland, Professor of International Security and Intelligence Studies, Strategic and Defence Studies Centre, Australian National University “While technology may be the catalyst for change in the coming 4th Industrial Revolution, our armed forces are ultimately altered by people, ideas, and institutions in that order. In War Transformed, General Ryan's timely and immensely readable book, the reader gains a keen sense of how the old and the new in human conflict will impact the profession of arms. A must-read and a sure-fire product for all security studies and military educational programs.” —Frank G. Hoffman, National Defense University, author of Mars Adapting: Military Change During War? “With War Transformed, Mick Ryan establishes he is among the world’s leading writers and deepest thinkers on future conflict. This book is a must-read for those who want to understand how to stay on the right side of the increasingly thin line between victory and defeat during the coming decades.” —August Cole, co-author of Burn-In: A Novel of the Real Robotic Revolution and Ghost Fleet: A Novel of the Next World War “Few military leaders have thought as deeply about the future of war as Major General Mick Ryan. The result is a book rich in insights into the changing shape of conflict and strategic competition, and wise in its recommendations for how western militaries need to adapt to 21st-century challenges.“ —Theo Farrell, professor and deputy vice-chancellor for Education, University of Wollongong, and former head of the Department of War Studies, King’s College London “An essential read on the present and future of war, and I do not write that lightly. Mick Ryan's War Transformed is at the sweet spot of being both well written and incredibly informative.” —P.W. Singer, best-selling author of Wired for War, Ghost Fleet, and LikeWar Major General Mick Ryan (Ret.) completed this visionary description of evolving warfare only months before the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine. His insights eerily reflect daily reports from that front. He describes Chinese and Russian aggression and the use of simultaneous cyber, political and conventional forms of war as a wake-up call to Western democracies – whose leaders have already begun to face this new realm of war. Despite some structural challenges in the book, Ryan’s timely, insider’s view of contemporary and future warfare proves deeply relevant and informative. He also emphasizes an important strategy underlying military success: always stay curious and never stop learning. —Getabstract"War Transformed is strongly recom­mended as a guide to improve one's ability to navigate our uncertain future. Not everyone is a "surf rider," but this book will stretch minds and force readers to reassess longstanding assumptions and dated ideas. Its strength is in its synthesis of the ideas of many others, which makes War Transformed comprehensive and an excellent foundation for a security studies course." —Joint Forces Quarterly "Thought-provoking, wide-ranging, cogently written and full of important insights about the looming conflicts of this century, War Transformed lends itself to professional development discussions at all levels. It is a book that belongs on every national security leader’s bookshelf, and its ideas should spark some serious soul-searching in the U.S. military, as well as among allies and partners, as to whether the U.S. military and its partners around the world are adapting and changing quickly enough to meet the challenges that all will face in future conflicts." —Association of the United States Army

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Book SynopsisMachiavelli draws on his extensive historical knowledge and experience as a statesman to examine the reasons that Kings, Emperors, Dukes and governments have thrived or crumbled, while highlighting the principles that guided them. In each case Machiavelli suggests a set of principles that any leader would find difficult to follow, but impossible to ignore.The Prince has had a profound influence on political thought over the past 500 years, so much so that the term ''Machiavellian'' is used to describe one who deceives and manipulates others. This is likely derived from Machiavelli''s view that "it is often necessary to act against mercy, against faith, against humanity, against frankness, against religion, in order to preserve the state." Machiavelli continues to provide an understanding of how world leaders think, and why certain decisions are made. A must read for the politically inclined and those interested in world events and the affairs of state.This case laminate collector''s edition includes a Victorian inspired dust-jacket. 

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Book SynopsisThe UN Commission on Human Rights began establishing the Special Procedures in the late 1960s. Since then, the UN mechanisms have developed and become veritable tools of human rights protection and monitoring.This book endeavours to capture the evolution of the human rights activity carried out by the Special Procedures and evaluate their importance and impact. It provides a thorough and up-to-date insight of the institutional history of the Special Procedures, analyzes their legal dimension, puts forward a conceptual definition of them, elucidates their evolution and assesses their effectiveness.This book makes an important and unique contribution to the study of UN human rights monitoring mechanisms by providing a systematic analysis and conceptualization of the Special Procedures. Also by singling out indicators to evaluate the impact of the Procedures' practice, this study brings innovative elements to the academic debate on the measurement of human rights bodies' activity.

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Book SynopsisHas any war in history gone according to plan? Monarchs, autocrats and elected leaders alike have a dismal record on launching and prosecuting wars. From pursuing over- ambitious goals, to making decisions without considering intelligence, terrain, morale or the enemy's capabilities, they have all erred. This not only wastes the lives of civilians, the enemy and one's own soldiers, but also means a failure to accomplish your objectives. Conflict scholar and former soldier Mike Martin takes the reader through the hard, elegant logic of how to fight an interstate war on land, including the factors that are often overlooked: the importance of psychology, training, getting the logistics right, and maintaining your esprit de corps. He then explains how to orchestrate the building blocks of military force--from infantry, artillery and air support, to information and cyber warfare-- in order to prevail over your adversary. 'How to Fight a War' explains in cool and precise prose the art of using extreme violence to convince your enemy that they should submit. It should be read by everyone who seeks to understand today's conflicts and those to come--and by all those who wish to lead us through the next decade of wars.Trade Review'Colourful, punchy, admirably challenging and clear--essential reading for every soldier, officer and General.' -- General Sir Patrick Sanders, Chief of the General Staff, British Army; 'War is abhorrent and complicated. But it is also human. In this easy-to-read book Mike Martin strips away much of its technical characteristics and reminds us that war is determined by some basic tenets that only a fool ignores. How to Fight a War is for statesmen, diplomats and generals to keep by their side when conflict beckons.' -- General Douglas Chalmers (CB, DSO, OBE) Deputy Chief of the Defence Staff, 2018-2021; Master of Emmanuel College, Cambridge University

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