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Delivery rates and Return policy The Direction of War: Contemporary Strategy in Historical Perspective Paperback – 5 December 2013
by
Hew (University of Oxford) Strachan
(Author)
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The West's wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have been seen as strategic failures resulting from a lack of consistent direction, of effective communication, and of governmental coordination. Leading military historian Sir Hew Strachan argues here that these failures resulted from a fundamental misreading and misapplication of strategy itself.
- Print length335 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- Publication date5 December 2013
- ISBN-101107654238
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Review
'A very thoughtful, enormously stimulating, and hugely thought-provoking examination of the strategies, concepts, and civil-military relationships that have influenced the character of war in the twenty-first century.' General David H. Petraeus, former Commander of United States Central Command and Commanding General of the Multi-National Force - Iraq and the NATO International Security Assistance Force, Afghanistan
'Another masterpiece from the foremost military academic of our generation. If you want to understand strategy, just read this book!' General Sir David Richards GCB CBE DSO, former Chief of Defence Staff
'Unparalleled in historic depth of argument, a surprising yet seductive view on whether modern war should bend to the demands of politics, or politics to the needs of war.' Jan Willem Honig, King's College London
'Strachan's historical analyses are a valuable addition to the literature on strategy. He invites the reader to think carefully about what we think we know and understand about strategy, and, perhaps more significantly, why we understand and think about strategy the way we do today.' Terry Terriff, University of Calgary
'A valuable book tracing an esteemed scholar's contributions to contemporary strategic thinking.' Antulio Echevarria, Strategic Studies Institute, United States Army War College
'[A] powerful and stimulating essay about the conduct of war and peace in our time. It is an essential read for MPs and hacks, the ideal primer for the debate about why we need armed force, and in what form, today.' London Evening Standard
'Impressive and provocative.' Daily Telegraph
'… a timely and devastating critique.' Richard Norton-Taylor, The Guardian online
'… extremely well written …' Jerry Lenaburg, New York Journal of Books
'[Strachan's] insistence on Clausewitzian exactitude produces a uniquely incisive assessment of key moments in America's twenty-first-century wars that may be particularly valuable to American leadership as it leaves them behind.' Foreign Policy's 'The Best Defense' blog
'… offers much good sense.' Lawrence D. Freedman, Foreign Affairs
'Another masterpiece from the foremost military academic of our generation. If you want to understand strategy, just read this book!' General Sir David Richards GCB CBE DSO, former Chief of Defence Staff
'Unparalleled in historic depth of argument, a surprising yet seductive view on whether modern war should bend to the demands of politics, or politics to the needs of war.' Jan Willem Honig, King's College London
'Strachan's historical analyses are a valuable addition to the literature on strategy. He invites the reader to think carefully about what we think we know and understand about strategy, and, perhaps more significantly, why we understand and think about strategy the way we do today.' Terry Terriff, University of Calgary
'A valuable book tracing an esteemed scholar's contributions to contemporary strategic thinking.' Antulio Echevarria, Strategic Studies Institute, United States Army War College
'[A] powerful and stimulating essay about the conduct of war and peace in our time. It is an essential read for MPs and hacks, the ideal primer for the debate about why we need armed force, and in what form, today.' London Evening Standard
'Impressive and provocative.' Daily Telegraph
'… a timely and devastating critique.' Richard Norton-Taylor, The Guardian online
'… extremely well written …' Jerry Lenaburg, New York Journal of Books
'[Strachan's] insistence on Clausewitzian exactitude produces a uniquely incisive assessment of key moments in America's twenty-first-century wars that may be particularly valuable to American leadership as it leaves them behind.' Foreign Policy's 'The Best Defense' blog
'… offers much good sense.' Lawrence D. Freedman, Foreign Affairs
About the Author
Hew Strachan is Chichele Professor of the History of War at the University of Oxford and a Fellow of All Souls College. Between 2004 and 2012 he was the Director of the Oxford Programme on the Changing Character of War. He also serves on the Strategic Advisory Panel of the Chief of the Defence Staff, on the UK Defence Academy Advisory Board, and on the Council of the International Institute for Strategic Studies. Foreign Policy listed him as one of the most influential global thinkers for 2012 and he was knighted in the New Year's Honours for 2013. His books include the first volume of his projected three-volume work The First World War (2001), which was awarded two American military history prizes and nominated for the Glenfiddich Scottish book of the year; The First World War: A New Illustrated History (2003), published to accompany a ten-part television series for Channel 4 and nominated for a British Book Award; and Carl von Clausewitz's On War (2007). His recent edited volumes include The Changing Character of War (2011) and How Fighting Ends (2012).
Product details
- Language : English
- Paperback : 335 pages
- ISBN-10 : 1107654238
- Customer reviews:
Customer reviews
4.4 out of 5 stars
4.4 out of 5
50 global ratings
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Top reviews from other countries
E. Happel
2.0 out of 5 stars
Rather disappointing
Reviewed in Germany on 14 February 2024Verified Purchase
Many repetitions, and a sort of nominalistic approach that, in my humble opinion, overstates the importance of "the" right definition of strategy for achieving good results in the planning and direction of war (and since, in Strachan's view, many many authors and military and political practitioners had no or a wrong definition of strategy, they blundered - they should have asked him!). The study has not been written as a systematic treatment from a singl mould and from the first to the last page, therefore some topics often emerge, but are not dealt with thoroughly (e.g. the "nature" of war). All in all: two points.
Alessandro ZANASI
3.0 out of 5 stars
Aggiornato.
Reviewed in Italy on 10 March 2019Verified Purchase
Bel saggio.
Blo
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Direction of War: Contemporary Strategy in Historical Perspective
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 30 May 2014Verified Purchase
I have to praise the sellars as there was a problem (my mistake) and I contacted the sellars. They could not have been more helpful so I would recommend them for that. The book arrived within few days and in excellent condition - though not read it yet. Brilliant service!
D. Parkin
4.0 out of 5 stars
You need a strategy to read this, but it is highly rewarding if it's your bag.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 25 February 2014Verified Purchase
I am still immersed in this work, but it is not one that can be hurried. I suspect that I will only get to a fuller understanding of his thrust after a second or third reading.The semantics of language and their relevance to the ongoing direction of war in the 21st century as employed by the major powers is a theme that cuts through the book like writing through a stick of rock. Strachan looks at the ongoing relevance of Clausewitz, and at how the term strategy has been used and misused, leading to problems in the ongoing conflicts that have plagued our century. An argument is posited that politicians have muddied the waters somewhat, with the military colluding in this by failing to adequately defend their corner. To make successful war, there has to be a clear strategy in place - something that Germans never had in place in the second world war, and something that the Americans are currently struggling with (the "War on terror", aka "the long war"). Strachan argues that short wars tend to be successful, while protracted conflicts favour the defenders.
So, you are pondering whether to buy this book. It is weighty and thought provoking, based around a series of lectures delivered by Strachan. The weightiness is also physical - it is pleasingly printed on good quality heavy paper, and equally pleasingly I have yet to spot a typo! It is a book with key observations onto the modern world, and as such inevitably feeds into current events. As somebody deeply interested in history I would heartily endorse this book. It is undoubtedly an impressive piece of work on an important area of human activity. It makes you think, and that in itself is a good thing.
So why the 4 star review, and not the full five? Maybe I am marking it unduly harshly, but it is perhaps overly dense, requiring frequent re-reading of passages before moving on. It does feel an important, even seminal work for all that, and the ideas probably deserve a wider readership than it will probably reach. I for one am glad that I have bought it.
So, you are pondering whether to buy this book. It is weighty and thought provoking, based around a series of lectures delivered by Strachan. The weightiness is also physical - it is pleasingly printed on good quality heavy paper, and equally pleasingly I have yet to spot a typo! It is a book with key observations onto the modern world, and as such inevitably feeds into current events. As somebody deeply interested in history I would heartily endorse this book. It is undoubtedly an impressive piece of work on an important area of human activity. It makes you think, and that in itself is a good thing.
So why the 4 star review, and not the full five? Maybe I am marking it unduly harshly, but it is perhaps overly dense, requiring frequent re-reading of passages before moving on. It does feel an important, even seminal work for all that, and the ideas probably deserve a wider readership than it will probably reach. I for one am glad that I have bought it.
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