War, peace and international relations: an introduction to strategic history

This textbook provides a comprehensive introduction to the strategic history of the past two centuries, showing how those 200 years were shaped and reshaped extensively by war. The book takes a broad view of what was relevant to the causes, courses, and consequences of conflict. The volume provides students with a strong grounding in the contribution of war to the development of the modern world, from the pre-industrial era to the age of international terrorism and smart weapons. Covering all the major wars of the past two centuries, the third edition has been revised and updated and now includes: - new introductory essays at the start of each section to help students recognise historical turning points and strategic themes; - revised and updated material on the post-Cold War period, accommodating new developments and contemporary perspectives; - new material on non-Western views on strategy, especially Sun Tzu; - a new chapter on 'The Age of Acceleration and Great Power Competition', starting with the death of Bin Laden and ending with the Ukraine crisis, - a new Conclusion offering a synthesis between the message of earlier editions and the state of strategy today. This textbook will be essential reading for students of strategic studies, security studies, war studies, International Relations and international history.

1. Themes and contexts of strategic history -- 2. Carl von Clausewitz and the theory of war -- 3. From limited war to national war : the French Revolution and the Napoleonic way of war -- 4. The nineteenth century, I : a strategic view -- 5. The nineteenth century, II : technology, warfare and international order -- 6. World War I, I : controversies -- 7. World War I, II : modern warfare -- 8. The twenty-year armistice, 1919-39 -- 9. The mechanization of war -- 10. World War II in Europe, I : the structure and course of total war -- 11. World War II in Europe, II : understanding the war -- 12. World War II in Asia-Pacific, I : Japan and the politics of empire -- 13. World War II in Asia-Pacific, II : strategy and warfare -- 14. The Cold War, I : politics and ideology -- 15. The Cold War, II : the nuclear revolution -- 16. War and peace after the Cold War : the interwar decade -- 17. 9/11 and the age of terror -- 18. War and irregular warfare : guerrillas, insurgents and terrorists -- 19. Geography and strategic history -- 20. War, peace and international order -- 21. Conclusion : the twenty-first century : must future strategic history resemble the past?

chapter Introduction: Strategic history -- chapter 1 Themes and contexts of strategic history -- chapter 2 Carl von Clausewitz and the theory of war -- chapter 3 From limited war to national war: The French Revolution and the Napoleonic way of war -- chapter 4 The nineteenth century, I: A strategic view -- chapter 5 The nineteenth century, II: Technology, warfare and international order -- chapter 6 World War I, I: Controversies -- chapter 7 World War I, II: Modern warfare -- chapter 8 The twenty-year armistice, 1919–39 -- chapter 9 The mechanization of war -- chapter 10 World War II in Europe, I: The structure and course of total war -- chapter 11 World War II in Europe, II: Understanding the war -- chapter 12 World War II in Asia–Pacific, I: Japan and the politics of empire -- chapter 13 World War II in Asia–Pacific, II: Strategy and warfare -- chapter 14 The Cold War, I: Politics and ideology -- chapter 15 The Cold War, II: The nuclear revolution -- chapter 16 War and peace after the Cold War: An interwar decade -- chapter 17 9/11 and the age of terror -- chapter 18 Irregular warfare: Guerrillas, insurgents and terrorists -- chapter 19 War, peace and international order -- chapter 20 Conclusion: Must future strategic history resemble the past?.