Military transformation and modern warfare : a reference handbook / Elinor Sloan.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Sloan, Elinor C. (Elinor Camille), 1965-

Series:

Contemporary military, strategic, and security issues 1932-295X

Contemporary military, strategic, and security issues, 1932-295X

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Armed Forces--Reorganization.

Armed Forces.

United States--Armed Forces--Reorganization.

United States.

Military art and science--History--21st century.

Military art and science.

History.

Military doctrine.

Physical Description:

viii, 183 pages ; 25 cm.

Place of Publication:

Westport, Conn. : Praeger Security International, 2008.

Summary:

Military transformation can be understood as comprising three overlapping, and sometimes competing, "layers"-the conventional-force dominated revolution in military affairs, a more recent irregular warfare emphasis, and a wider dimension including homeland defense, space, and nuclear policy. The Western world is currently focusing its attention on transformation's middle layer, while China and Russia are focusing on the RMA and transformation's wider aspects. This dynamic indicates that the United States and its allies should continue to prepare for the full range of conflicts.

This book establishes the meaning of "military transformation," assesses the manner in which certain countries are transforming their military forces, discusses the relevancy of transformation efforts to modern conflict and, in drawing out the key areas of emphasis on the part of various countries, provides a window on the future global security environment.

It is divided into seven chapters, plus a conclusion. The first chapter focuses on the meaning of military transformation, establishing a framework through which national militaries can be examined. This comprises transformation's revolution in military affairs components, its newer special operations forces, counterinsurgency, and stabilization and reconstruction aspects, and its wider homeland defense, space, and deterrence dimensions. The book devotes two chapters to the United States and one each to China, Russia, and NATO. It also has a chapter that looks individually at Australia, Britain, Canada, France and Germany. An assessment of the relevancy of force transformation to modern warfare is integrated into the discussion of what transformation means, how the United States is responding, and the concluding chapter. The book contains biographical sketches of Andrew Marshall, Andrew Krepinevich, William Owens, Arthur Cebrowski, Donald Rumsfeld, and Thomas Barnett, all of who have been involved in some aspect of military transformation.

Contents:

Chapter 1 What Is Military Transformation? 1

Chapter 2 U.S. Military Transformation in "How We Fight" 16

Chapter 3 Wider Aspects of U.S. Military Transformation 38

Chapter 4 Allied Approaches to Military Transformation 52

Chapter 5 NATO and Military Transformation 76

Chapter 6 Military Transformation in China 93

Chapter 7 Russia and Military Transformation 109

Conclusion: How Relevant? Military Transformation and Modern Conflict 123

Appendix II Key Documents 143.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages [165]-170) and index.

ISBN:

9780275994051

0275994058

OCLC:

176648995