Offense, Defense, and War


Book Description

An overview of offense-defense theory, which argues that the relative ease of offense and defense varies in international politics. Offense-defense theory argues that the relative ease of offense and defense varies in international politics. When the offense has the advantage, military conquest becomes easier and war is more likely; the opposite is true when the defense has the advantage. The balance between offense and defense depends on geography, technology, and other factors. This theory, and the body of related theories, has generated much debate and research over the past twenty-five years.This book presents a comprehensive overview of offense-defense theory. It includes contending views on the theory and some of the most recent attempts to refine and test it.




Offensive and Defensive Security


Book Description

Numerous publications exist which examine elements of the security discipline. Few address these elements as a continuum of interrelated functions. None examine the structure of Offensive vice Defensive security in anything other than the domain of international security . This text has been written to fill this gap and to support a course in Offensive-Defensive Security, developed by Henley-Putnam University, which briefly reviews the history of the field of strategic security and its three component parts protection, intelligence, and counterterrorism as well as its two distinguishing characteristics: offensive tactics and operations combined with technological innovation. The course then moves to an in-depth assessment of related security areas that focus on defensive tactics and operations: homeland security, criminal justice, conflict and peace studies, and emergency management. While these fields may appear at first to be part of strategic security, this course and the associated text explores the critical differences and the fact that they are also critical elements of industrial, governmental, and military security. Emphasis will be placed at an introductory level both academic and professional distinctions and discuss the structures associated within these domains. The text is divided into the following key sections: Section 1: The Basics Section 2: The Environment Section 3: Security Planning and Management Section 1 provides an orientation for the reader to a common frame of reference through information provided in the following chapters. It is not intended to be a single source of all relevant information. Additionally, this text is not intended to be the exhaustive single source for all conditions. Rather, it provides a roadmap of considerations on how to reach a specific goal in an efficient and informed manner. Section 2 examines the world the security professional must inhabit, again, in a generalized manner and, likely, in a way never before considered. Elements of neurology, biology, physics, philosophy, logic, analytics, and finance are presented in a manner unique to the changing paradigm of Offensive-Defensive Security philosophy. The various chapters are labeled as terrains as the best representation of the environmental information to be discussed. Each will approach the topics in as clear a manner possible of current thinking and science within each as critical to the understanding of the total security environment; the how, why, and in what ways they will affect the world of this security paradigm. Finally, Section 3 incorporates the information of the first two sections and applies the knowledge gained to the planning and management of an integrated security plan. The objective of this section is to utilize the concepts and processes developed via international agencies such as the Project Management Institute to demonstrate how to create an integrated and manageable enterprise structure and not a one-size fits all template. As the knowledge consolidates, integration begins, that of incorporating the security entity into the enterprise as a whole be that enterprise be a business, government entity, or military operation. The only difference is the scale. This is a vital step in that the act of protection cannot interfere with the process of performing the enterprise function. In fact, it must enhance the enterprise function and assist in ensuring its success. Key Learning Points The approach and purpose of this text has been outlined. The following are the key reasons or learning points in summary. a. Define the key elements and environments within which the security plan and operational management activities must occur b. Familiarize the student with cultural, biological, financial, informational, and legal aspects necessary for the understanding of how these domains influence human behavior; the primary aspect of security planning and operations c. Familiarize the




On Offense and Defense in Space Warfare


Book Description

"This study comprises an analysis of what contributes to offense and defense in space warfare. I assess and synthesize key elements of offense and defense from across land, naval, and air warfare theory to evaluate extant space theories. I conclude that the use of singular analogical models and a misunderstanding of the current conditions of the domain limits the relevance of current space theories. Consequently, I propose a series of enhancements to the context and practicalities of space warfare that result in a more accurate portrayal of the essence of offense and defense in the domain. In particular, I focus on six common elements of offense and defense—objective, battlespace, military forces, position, movement, and resources to create a more accurate picture. These elements serve as the framework for assessing offense and defense of traditional theories and demonstrating the shortcomings of extant space theories. As a result, this research provides a cautionary tale regarding the dangers inherent to blindly adopting aspects of theory as inviolable canon."--Abstract.




Causes of War


Book Description

What causes war? How can military conflicts best be prevented? In this book, Stephen Van Evera frames five conditions that increase the risk of interstate war: false optimism about the likely outcome of a war, a first-strike advantage, fluctuation in the relative power of states, circumstances that allow nations to parlay one conquest into another, and circumstances that make conquest easy. According to Van Evera, all but one of these conditions—false optimism—rarely occur today, but policymakers often erroneously believe in their existence. He argues that these misperceptions are responsible for many modern wars, and explores both World Wars, the Korean War, and the 1967 Mideast War as test cases. Finally, he assesses the possibility of nuclear war by applying all five hypotheses to its potential onset. Van Evera's book demonstrates that ideas from the Realist paradigm can offer strong explanations for international conflict and valuable prescriptions for its control.




War and the Engineers


Book Description

Do some technologies provoke war? Do others promote peace? Offense-defense theory contends that technological change is an important cause of conflict: leaders will be tempted to launch wars when they believe innovation favors attackers over defenders. Offense-defense theory is perhaps best known from the passionate and intricate debates about first-strike capability and deterrence stability during the cold war, but it has deeper historical roots, remains a staple in international relations theorizing, and drives modern arms control policymaking. In War and the Engineers, the first book systematically to test the logical and empirical validity of offense-defense theory, Keir A. Lieber examines the relationships among politics, technology, and the causes of war. Lieber's cases explore the military and political implications of the spread of railroads, the emergence of rifled small arms and artillery, the introduction of battle tanks, and the nuclear revolution. Lieber incorporates the new historiography of World War I, which draws on archival materials that only recently became available, to challenge many common beliefs about the conflict. The author's central conclusion is that technology is neither a cause of international conflict nor a panacea; instead, power politics remains paramount.




Security and Stability in the New Space Age


Book Description

This book examines the drivers behind great power security competition in space to determine whether realistic strategic alternatives exist to further militarization. Space is an area of increasing economic and military competition. This book offers an analysis of actions and events indicative of a growing security dilemma in space, which is generating an intensifying arms race between the US, China, and Russia. It explores the dynamics behind a potential future war in space and investigates methods of preventing an arms race from an international relations theory and military-strategy standpoint. The book is divided into three parts: the first section offers a broad discussion of the applicability of international relations theory to current conditions in space; the second is a direct application of theory to the space environment to determine whether competition or cooperation is the optimal strategic choice; the third section focuses on testing the hypotheses against reality, by analyzing novel alternatives to three major categories of space systems. The volume concludes with a study of the practical limitations of applying a strategy centered on commercialization as a method of defusing the orbital security dilemma. This book will be of interest to students of space power, strategic studies, and international relations.




Warfighting


Book Description

The manual describes the general strategy for the U.S. Marines but it is beneficial for not only every Marine to read but concepts on leadership can be gathered to lead a business to a family. If you want to see what make Marines so effective this book is a good place to start.




On Tactics


Book Description

Originally setting out to write the very book that he would have wanted to own as a young infantryman, the author penned On Tactics as a remedy for navigating the chaotic and inchoate realm of tactical theory. Challenging centuries-old conventional wisdom regarding the principles of war, tactics, and the roles of strategy, doctrine, experiential learning, and military history, Friedman's work offers a striking synthesis of thinking on tactics as well as strategy. Part One of the book establishes a tactical system meant to replace the Principles of War checklist. First, the contextual role of tactics with regards to strategy and war will be established. This will necessarily lean on major strategic theories in order to illuminate the role of tactics. This section will be formed around the Physical, Mental, and Moral planes of battlefield interaction used by theorists such as J.F.C Fuller and John Boyd. Each plane will then be examined in turn, and many of the classic Principles of War will be discussed along with some new ones. It will present some standard methods that tacticians can use to gain an advantage on the battlefield using historical examples that illustrate each concept. These "tactical tenets" include maneuver, mass, firepower, tempo, surprise, deception, confusion, shock, and the role of the moral aspects of combat. Finally, Part One will circle back around by discussing the role of tactical victory- once achieved- in contributed to a strategy. Part One is short by design. It is intended to be both compelling and easily mastered for junior non-commissioned officers and company grade officers, while still rich enough to be interesting to both specialist and non-specialist academics. It is a book meant not just for bookshelves but also for ruck sacks and cargo pockets. Part Two builds on Part One by exploring concepts with which the tactician must be familiar with such as the culminating point of victory, mission tactics and decentralized command and control, offensive and defensive operations, and the initiative. Part Three will conclude the book examining implications of the presented tactical systems to a variety of other issues in strategic studies.




Animal Contests


Book Description

Contests are an important aspect of the lives of diverse animals, from sea anemones competing for space on a rocky shore to fallow deer stags contending for access to females. Why do animals fight? What determines when fights stop and which contestant wins? Addressing fundamental questions on contest behaviour, this volume presents theoretical and empirical perspectives across a range of species. The historical development of contest research, the evolutionary theory of both dyadic and multiparty contests, and approaches to experimental design and data analysis are discussed in the first chapters. This is followed by reviews of research in key animal taxa, from the use of aerial displays and assessment rules in butterflies and the developmental biology of weapons in beetles, through to interstate warfare in humans. The final chapter considers future directions and applications of contest research, making this a comprehensive resource for both graduate students and researchers in the field.