Ebook: Strategy in War and Peace: A Critical Introduction

A lively introduction to the practical application of strategy in war and peace

• Read and download the introduction for free now (pdf)

Strategy is a central concept in international security, and one that travels across the academic disciplines of politics, international relations and history. By why is it so important? Aaron Edwards unpacks key strategic episodes from world history and politics to help readers to understand the role of strategy and the scholarly and policy debates surrounding it.

Discover how strategic theory can be used to navigate the complex and uncertain international security environment that we live in today.

• Assesses the practical utility of strategy in the modern world and emphasises its analytical value in the practical business of national and international security
• Examines the politics of strategy in times of both war and peace

Themes covered include:

International relations • technology • ethics • irregular war (including counter-insurgency, counter-terrorism and hybrid warfare) • the resurgence of great power rivalries in the early 21st century • the rise of non-state actors

Case studies include:

Guerrilla warfare and strategy in regions from South East Asia to the Middle East • US nuclear strategy in the Cold War • Russian intervention in Ukraine • British strategy at the end of empire • the UN's role in resolving conflict after the Cold War • US-led coalition strategy in Afghanistan • the challenge posed by Al Qaeda and Islamic State/Daesh