Description
Book SynopsisA 2006 exploration of the usefulness of the study of history for contemporary military strategists. The essays of Part I examine the relationship between history and the military profession. Those in Part II explore specific historical cases that show the repetitiveness of certain military problems.
Trade Review"Military historians and strategists will come away from this book with a stronger awareness of their responsibilities to assess continuities critically and to offer correctives to those who assert that technological innovation means the Western world has reached the end of traditional military history." -P. Whitney Lackenbauer, St. Jerome's University, Canadian Journal of History
"The Past as Prologue...attempts to demonstrate the importance of understanding history. In fact it doesn't simply attempt, it succeeds...The Past as Prologue is a must-read by senior military and a should-read by senior policy makers." -Lt Claude Berube, U.S. Navy Reserve, Proceedings
Table of Contents1. Introduction Williamson Murray and Richard Hart Sinnreich; 2. Military history and the history of war Sir Michael Howard; Part I. History and the Military Profession: 3. The relevance of military history to the military profession: a British view John Kiszely; 4. The relevance of military history to the military profession: a US marine's view Paul Van Riper; 5. Awkward partners: military history and American military education Richard Hart Sinnreich; 6. Thoughts on military history and the profession of arms Williamson Murray; Part II. The Influences of History on the Military Profession: 7. Thucydides as educator Paul Rahe; 8. Clausewitz, history, and the future strategic world Colin Gray; 9. History and the nature of strategy John Gooch; 10. Military transformation in long periods of peace Andrew Gordon; 11. Military history and the pathology of lessons learned: the Russo-Japanese War Jonathan Bailey; 12. Obstacles to innovation and readiness: the British Army's experience, 1919–39; 13. What history suggests about terrorism and its future Christopher Harmon; 14. Civil-military relations and the future Frank Hoffman.
