War and Power - by Phillips Payson O'Brien (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

A bold, revisionist study of modern warfare, showing that military victory is rooted not in large armies and decisive battles, but in the full spectrum of economic, political, and social power--"vital reading for anyone grappling with America's uncertain place in today's global order" (Alexander Vindman, New York Times-bestselling author of The Folly of Realism)

For nearly two centuries, international relations have been premised on the idea of the "Great Powers." As the thinking went, these mighty states--the European empires of the nineteenth century, the United States and the USSR during the Cold War--were uniquely able to exert their influence on the world stage because of their overwhelming military capabilities. But as military historian Phillips Payson O'Brien argues in War and Power, this conception of power fails to capture the more complicated truth about how wars are fought and won.

Our focus on the importance of large, well-equipped armies and conclusive battles has obscured the foundational forces that underlie military victories and the actual mechanics of successful warfare. O'Brien suggests a new framework of "full-spectrum powers," taking into account all of the diverse factors that make a state strong--from economic and technological might, to political stability, to the complex logistics needed to maintain forces in the field.

Drawing on examples ranging from Napoleon's France to today's ascendant China, War and Power offers a critical new understanding of what makes a power truly great. It is vital reading in today's perilous world.

Review Quotes

"Phillips O'Brien is always fantastic. Heterodox. War and Power is a really interesting book."--Paul Krugman

"As wars rage across the world, Phillips O'Brien offers powerful insights into the past, present, and future of war and power. This book is vital reading for anyone grappling with America's uncertain place in today's global order."--Alexander Vindman, New York Times-bestselling author of The Folly of Realism

"Phillips O'Brien is the rare historian who has something trenchant to say to students of contemporary warfare. As he points out in this important book, the character of war evolves, but some of the underlying truths, particularly from the Second World War, are still very much with us."--Eliot A. Cohen, author of The Hollow Crown

"Phillips O'Brien is one of the keenest observers of modern strategy, and his new book takes a deep historical look at the evolution of warfare and its implications for conflicts like the ongoing one in Ukraine."--Francis Fukuyama, author of Liberalism and Its Discontents

About the Author

Phillips Payson O'Brien is a professor of strategic studies and head of the School of International Relations at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland. He is the author of six books, including The Strategists and The Second Most Powerful Man in the World. He is a regular contributor to Foreign Affairs and The Atlantic. Born and raised in Boston, he now lives in Scotland.