This research collection provides a comprehensive study of important strategic, cultural, ethical and philosophical aspects of modern warfare. It offers a refreshing analysis of key issues in modern warfare, not only in terms of the conduct of war and the wider complexities and ramifications of modern conflict, but also concepts of war, the crucial shifts in the structure of warfare, and the morality and legality of the use of force in a post-9/11 age.

The collection focuses on strategies of war, conduct and control, before progressing to studies of the evolving nature of warfare, its privatization, new electronic methods and the financing of war. The reality and impact of warfare is analyzed through notions of legality, ethics and morality while the final section addresses the way we understand warfare, focusing on media representations, imagery and memory to explain why confrontation, conflict and combat have been and are likely to remain a pivotal part of human society and a deciding factor in international affairs.

Bringing an impressive range of themes and expertise together in an accessible, articulately written form, The Ashgate Research Companion to Modern Warfare is essential reading.

Contents: Introduction, George Kassimeris and John Buckley; Part I Strategy and Conduct of War: The Western way of war, Jeremy Black; Strategic thought: the relevance of Clausewitz, Antulio J. Echevarria II; Development of modern counterinsurgency theory and doctrine, James S. Corum; Air power: the quest to remove battle from war, Joel Hayward; Sea power, Andrew Lambert; Land warfare: attrition and manoeuvre, John Buckley. Part II Aspects of Modern War: After the RMA: contemporary intelligence, power and war, John Ferris; Cyberwar, Myriam Dunn Cavelty; 20th century military spending patterns, Jari Eloranta; The politics of the contemporary trade in major conventional weapons, Mark Pythian; Turning war into business: private security companies and commercial opportunism, Chris Kinsey; Women in the armed forces of Western democracies, Helena Carreiras; Women and World War II, Lucy Noakes. Part III Morality and Law: Ethics and the enduring relevance of just war theory in the 21st century, David Whetham; Lying down with dogs: the inadequacy of Machiavellianism as a basis for US foreign policy, Thomas M. Kane; Civilization and savagery, Brett Bowden; International law: military force and armed conflict, Christopher P.M. Waters and James A. Green; Humanitarian intervention: genocide, crimes against humanity and the use of force, Steven Haines; 'Forgetful warriors': neglected lessons on leadership from Plato's Republic, George R. Lucas. Part IV Perceptions and Representations of Warfare: Land of ghosts? Memories of war in the Balkans, Patrick Finney; Cinema and the Cold War: an international perspective, Tony Shaw; Music as an inspiration for combat among American soldiers in Iraq, Jonathan Pieslak; Media war and media management, Stephen Badsey; From psychological warfare to information operations and back again, Philip M. Taylor; Small wars and telecommunication, Thomas Rid; Index.

About the Editor: Dr George Kassimeris, University of Wolverhampton, UK and Professor John Buckley, University of Wolverhampton, UK

Reviews: 'I can think of no other single volume on war that I would rather place in the hands of a university student at the outset of their studies. Henceforth, this companion will represent the standard by which all texts for the teaching and study of modern warfare will be judged.’
R. Gerald Hughes, Aberystwyth University, UK

'Given that our understanding of what constitutes contemporary war is so bitterly contested, this book could not be more timely. Crucially, too, it is not content simply to provide a survey of the field, but seeks to provoke debate with essays that go beyond the standard approaches to the subject and that embrace unusual topics and innovative interpretations.'
Hew Strachan, University of Oxford, UK

'An essential tool for both the student and practitioner of modern warfare across its full spectrum. It does not pretend to give all the answers but it certainly asks the right questions. One copy please on every staff college student's bedside table – like a Gideon Bible.'
Crispin Black MBE MPhil, Falklands veteran and Associate Fellow of Chatham House

This title is also available as an eBook, ISBN 978-0-7546-9177-8

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Full contents list

Introduction

Index