Narratives provide the storylines of conflict and in doing so become an arena of conflict themselves. When states mount information campaigns against each other, they are trying to change the narrative. The digital platforms of the new information environment have been identified by analysts as a significant factor in contemporary strategy.
Throughout history, the concept of command - as both a way to achieve objectives and as an assertion of authority - has been essential to military action and leadership. But, as Sir Lawrence Freedman shows, it is also deeply political. Military command has been reconstructed and revolutionized since the Second World War by nuclear warfare, small-scale guerrilla land operations and cyber interference. Freedman takes a global perspective, systematically investigating its practice and politics since 1945 through a wide range of conflicts from the French Colonial Wars, the Cuban Missile Crisis and the Bangladesh Liberation War to North Vietnam's Easter Offensive of 1972, the Falklands War, the Iraq War and Russia's wars in Chechnya and Ukraine. By highlighting the political nature of strategy, Freedman shows that military decision-making cannot be separated from civilian priorities and that commanders must now have the sensibility to navigate politics as well as warfare.
Originally published in 1986, although the pace of arms control negotiations has been stepped up, there is still little sign of agreement. In this paper the author examines the current negotiating effort, with particular emphasis on its implications for European security.
One of the world's leading authorities on war and international politics synthesizes the vast history of strategy's evolution in this consistently engaging and surprising account of how it came to pervade every aspect of life.
A prize-winning historian takes an exceptionally clear-eyed look at America's strategic predicament in the Middle East over the past 30 years.
"This paper examines the difficulty the US armed forces face in shifting their focus from preparing for regular wars, in which combat is separated from civil society, to irregular wars, in which combat is integrated with civil society. It argues that the political context of contemporary irregular wars requires that the purpose and practice of Western forces be governed by liberal values. This is also the case with regular wars, to the extent that they occur, but it is the integration with civil society that makes the application of liberal values so challenging. It argues that this challenge becomes easier to meet when military operations are understood to contribute to the development of a compelling narrative about the likely course and consequence of a conflict, in which these values are shown to be respected. However, while it is vital that the employment of armed force remains sensitive at all times to the underlying political context and to the role of narratives in shaping this context, a key test of success will always be the defeat of the opposing forces. The application of this test in regular war remains straightforward; this is not the case with irregular war, which can be of long duration and contain frequent shifts in tempo and focus. The 'war on terror' has highlighted these issues and the paper concludes with suggestions for a strategic response."--Jacket
The second volume delves into the Falklands Campaign, offering a comprehensive and authoritative narrative of a pivotal moment in British political history. Freedman vividly depicts the dynamics of a government engaged in warfare, highlighting the complexities and challenges faced during this extraordinary period.
The Origins of the Falklands War
Exploring the origins of the 1982 war, this book delves into the complex historical dispute between Argentina and Britain regarding the sovereignty of the islands. It highlights the challenges encountered by both governments in their attempts to reconcile their differing claims and perspectives, providing a comprehensive understanding of the geopolitical tensions that have shaped this enduring conflict.
World War Two left two compelling, indelible images that colored the decades to come: the immense force of the Soviet Union's Red Army and the horrific devastation wrought by the atomic bombing of Hiroshima/Nagasaki. For the next half-century, the great powers prepared themselves for another, deadlier international conflagration...one that never happened. Politicians and strategists devoted time, intellectual energy, and financial resources figuring out how to fight--or avoid--nuclear war; meanwhile the industrial complex dedicated itself to producing ever more complex weaponry. Through thoughtful analysis and striking photography, follow the changing expectations during this period, and how these expectations were influenced by the actual experience of limited warfare. From the evolution of nuclear strategy and technology to the effect of Korea and Vietnam to contemporary conflicts like Desert Storm, you'll see how a revival of conventional strategy has raised the possibility of a revolution in military affairs.
