Description

Book Synopsis

This textbook provides a comprehensive introduction to the strategic history of the past two centuries, showing how those 200 years were shaped and reshaped extensively by war. The book takes a broad view of what was relevant to the causes, courses and consequences of conflict.

The volume provides students with a strong grounding in the contribution of war to the development of the modern world, from the pre-industrial era to the age of international terrorism and smart weapons.  Covering all the major wars of the past two centuries, the third edition has been revised and updated and now includes:

  • new introductory essays at the start of each section to help students recognize historical turning points and strategic themes; 
  • revised and updated material on the post-Cold War period, accommodating new developments and contemporary perspectives;
  • new material on non-Western views on strategy, especially Sun Tzu;
  • a new chapter on The age

    Trade Review

    'Since it was first published in 2007 War, Peace and International Relations: An Introduction to Strategic History has been a classic and distinctive text in the Strategic Studies literature. Professor Gray, one of the great strategic thinkers of his day, argued that strategic history indicated that the future of warfare was likely to be very much like the past and that the general theory of strategy was unchanging. He also argued that great power rivalry was likely to re-emerge in the future. Following his premature death, Professor Wirtz has done a great service to students and practitioners of strategy by bringing Gray’s analysis up to date in this new edition showing how important Gray’s insights and analysis are to the understanding of the contemporary war in Ukraine and the growing geopolitical tensions in relations between the West and the developing ‘unlimited’ strategic alliance between Russia and China. Professor Wirtz is to be congratulated. This is a great testimony to the enduring value of the writings of Colin S. Gray.'

    Emeritus Professor John Baylis, FLSW, FRHist.S, FAcSS, USA

    Praise for previous editions:

    'The author’s discussions and clarity of thought and expression make this work ideal as a textbook for introducing civilian students and prospective military officers of the various military academies to the subject.'

    Parameters



    Table of Contents

    Introduction: Strategic History PART I: THEORY OF WAR 1. Themes and Contexts of Strategic History 2. Carl Von Clausewitz and The Theory of War PART II: THE FRENCH AND INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTIONS 3. From Limited War to National War: The French Revolution and the Napoleonic Way of War 4. The Nineteenth Century, I: A Strategic View 5. The Nineteenth Century, II: Technology, Warfare and International Order PART III: WORLD WAR I AND THE TWENTY-YEAR ARMISTICE 6. World War I, I: Controversies 7. World War I, II: Modern Warfare 8. The Twenty-Year Armistice, 1919-39 9. The Mechanization of War PART IV: WORLD WAR II 10. World War II in Europe, I: The Structure and Course of Total War 11. World War II in Europe, II: Understanding the War 12. World War II in Asia-Pacific, I: Japan and the Politics of Empire 13. World War II in Asia-Pacific, II: Strategy and Warfare PART V: THE COLD WAR 14. The Cold War, I: Politics and Ideology 15. The Cold War, II: The Nuclear Revolution PART VI: OUR CONTEMPORARY AGE 16. War and Peace After the Cold War: An Interwar Decade 17. 9/11 and the Age of Terror 18. The Age of Acceleration and the Rise of Great Power Competition Conclusion: War, Peace and International Order

War Peace and International Relations

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    £47.99

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    Order before 4pm tomorrow for delivery by Sat 27 Jun 2026.

    A Paperback by Colin Gray, James J. Wirtz

    15 in stock


      View other formats and editions of War Peace and International Relations by Colin Gray

      Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd
      Publication Date: 10/24/2023 12:00:00 AM
      ISBN13: 9781032373089, 978-1032373089
      ISBN10: 1032373083

      Description

      Book Synopsis

      This textbook provides a comprehensive introduction to the strategic history of the past two centuries, showing how those 200 years were shaped and reshaped extensively by war. The book takes a broad view of what was relevant to the causes, courses and consequences of conflict.

      The volume provides students with a strong grounding in the contribution of war to the development of the modern world, from the pre-industrial era to the age of international terrorism and smart weapons.  Covering all the major wars of the past two centuries, the third edition has been revised and updated and now includes:

      • new introductory essays at the start of each section to help students recognize historical turning points and strategic themes; 
      • revised and updated material on the post-Cold War period, accommodating new developments and contemporary perspectives;
      • new material on non-Western views on strategy, especially Sun Tzu;
      • a new chapter on The age

        Trade Review

        'Since it was first published in 2007 War, Peace and International Relations: An Introduction to Strategic History has been a classic and distinctive text in the Strategic Studies literature. Professor Gray, one of the great strategic thinkers of his day, argued that strategic history indicated that the future of warfare was likely to be very much like the past and that the general theory of strategy was unchanging. He also argued that great power rivalry was likely to re-emerge in the future. Following his premature death, Professor Wirtz has done a great service to students and practitioners of strategy by bringing Gray’s analysis up to date in this new edition showing how important Gray’s insights and analysis are to the understanding of the contemporary war in Ukraine and the growing geopolitical tensions in relations between the West and the developing ‘unlimited’ strategic alliance between Russia and China. Professor Wirtz is to be congratulated. This is a great testimony to the enduring value of the writings of Colin S. Gray.'

        Emeritus Professor John Baylis, FLSW, FRHist.S, FAcSS, USA

        Praise for previous editions:

        'The author’s discussions and clarity of thought and expression make this work ideal as a textbook for introducing civilian students and prospective military officers of the various military academies to the subject.'

        Parameters



        Table of Contents

        Introduction: Strategic History PART I: THEORY OF WAR 1. Themes and Contexts of Strategic History 2. Carl Von Clausewitz and The Theory of War PART II: THE FRENCH AND INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTIONS 3. From Limited War to National War: The French Revolution and the Napoleonic Way of War 4. The Nineteenth Century, I: A Strategic View 5. The Nineteenth Century, II: Technology, Warfare and International Order PART III: WORLD WAR I AND THE TWENTY-YEAR ARMISTICE 6. World War I, I: Controversies 7. World War I, II: Modern Warfare 8. The Twenty-Year Armistice, 1919-39 9. The Mechanization of War PART IV: WORLD WAR II 10. World War II in Europe, I: The Structure and Course of Total War 11. World War II in Europe, II: Understanding the War 12. World War II in Asia-Pacific, I: Japan and the Politics of Empire 13. World War II in Asia-Pacific, II: Strategy and Warfare PART V: THE COLD WAR 14. The Cold War, I: Politics and Ideology 15. The Cold War, II: The Nuclear Revolution PART VI: OUR CONTEMPORARY AGE 16. War and Peace After the Cold War: An Interwar Decade 17. 9/11 and the Age of Terror 18. The Age of Acceleration and the Rise of Great Power Competition Conclusion: War, Peace and International Order

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