A Measure Short of War: A Brief History of Great Power Subversion

by Jill Kastner, William C. Wohlforth

A fast-paced, gripping history of meddling, manipulation, and skulduggery among great power rivals

In 2016 the United States was stunned by evidence of Russian meddling in the U.S. presidential elections—but it should not have been. Subversion—domestic interference to undermine or manipulate a rival—is as old as statecraft itself. The basic idea would have been familiar to Sun Tzu, Thucydides, Elizabeth I, or Bismarck. Russia's operation was just the latest episode, and more will come.

It came as a surprise in 2016 because the sole superpower had fallen asleep at the wheel. But what's really new? Have we entered a new age of vulnerability? To answer these questions, and to protect against future subversion, we need a clear-eyed understanding of what it is and how it works.

In A Measure Short of War, Jill Kastner and William C. Wohlforth provide just that, taking the reader on a compelling ride through the history of subversion, exploring two thousand years of mischief and manipulation to illustrate subversion's allure, its operational possibilities, and the means to fight it. A Measure Short of War presents vivid examples from the ancient world, the great-power rivalries of the 19th century, epic Cold War struggles, and more. It shows how prior technological revolutions opened new avenues for subversion, and how foreign subverters fatally weakened some democracies, while other democracies artfully defended themselves and their democratic principles.

A primer on the history of subversive statecraft in great power rivalry, A Measure Short of War will leave readers smarter about foreign meddling, more prepared to debate national responses, and better able to navigate between the twin temptations of insouciance and overreaction.

Genres: History, Politics, Nonfiction

304 pages, Hardcover

Published January 7, 2025

Reviews

[MikePeterS · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good quick read regarding the timelessness of subversion among great power peers. The Kremlin’s attempts at sewing political and cultural discord in the American public prior to the 2016 election is nothing new under the Sun; it is another link in the chain reaching far back into the distant past of human civilization. But while subversion is nothing new, the power of great powers has continued to climb along with the accessibility and depth of information technology. The internet is to radio is to the printing press. Its information all the way down.

As for the book itself, I understand it aims to present its model concisely with a few noteworthy case as evidence, but goddamn I wish it didnt have to be so BRIEF. I could have used another 100-200 pages of history and subversive statecraft. No doubt, the point is proven with the few they give, but I could really sink my teeth into more. The authors’ rigorous dive into the subversion of the past century was especially compelling.

[Spencer Willardson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an interesting book that lies at the juncture between IR and intelligence studies. The authors introduce subversion, a catch-all term for measures short of war, but especially those that take place between great powers. These are ways to subvert the interests of an adversary without provoking to the point of full-blown war. As I began reading, I was not sure that we needed terminology and studies about such actions beyond covert operations, but the more I read, the more I liked a broader catch-all that can account for the dynamics of great powers dealing with each other rather than manipulating or intervening in states that have less ability to defend themselves due to the large power and capability differentials that exist.

[Peter Z. · Rating 1 out of 5]

Seriously? Still pushing the totally debunked "Russia-gate" narrative? This needs to be reecategorized ias fiction.

[Even · Rating 4 out of 5]

Could have used a bit tighter editing, but lots of interesting content.