Understanding Contemporary Strategy

by Thomas M. Kane, David J. Lonsdale

This textbook provides a comprehensive introduction to modern strategy, covering the context, theory, and practice of military strategy in all its different forms.

Covering all the main issues in the field, the book explores the major themes through a combination of classical and modern strategic theory, history, and current practice. It is split into three main sections:

The first provides the context for contemporary strategy and includes discussions of the human, technological, intelligence, ethical, and grand strategic dimensions.

The second part explores the theory and practice of strategy in different geographical domains, including land, sea, air, space, and cyberspace.

The final part engages with three of the most challenging forms of strategy in the contemporary era: nuclear weapons, terrorism, and insurgency.

This second edition brings the book up to date by including discussions of the rise and fall of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS); the emergence of robotics and artificial intelligence; major events in space and cyberspace; and the growing profile of nuclear weapons. Each chapter presents the reader with a succinct summary of the topic, provides a challenging analysis of current issues, and finishes with key points, questions for discussion, and further reading.

This book will be essential reading for upper-level students of strategic studies, war studies, military history, and international security.

362 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 2009

About the author

I grew up in Maine, amidst hills and forests much like those of my favorite fantasy novels. After a few years publishing supplements for role-playing games (Shadowrun, AD&D, Cyberpunk and Ars Magica to name a few), I moved to the UK where I taught strategy and international relations at the University of Hull. Twenty years later, I have taken the opportunity to return to Maine and to fiction writing.