Another Bloody Century
| Author: | Colin S. Gray |
| ISBN: | 978-0304367344 |
| Reading list: |
|
| Mandatory: | LTCOL, WO1 |
A masterful exploration of the theory of warfare and how our best view and prediction for future wars comes from the mirror of the past. With a prominent reliance upon the work of Clausewitz, Gray argues that while causes, techniques and the technologies of warfare may and likely will change over time, the fundamental nature of war is as an extension of politics: an escalation to the use of force to impose one’s will on the enemy. Another Bloody Century encapsulates Gray’s wide-ranging predictions for what future of conflict will look like: from the treatment of geopolitics and possible uses of NATO to cyber and space warfare.
Gray structures the book around enduring “contexts” of war: politics, culture, technology, and strategy. He examines terrorism, weapons of mass destruction, and the rise of irregular conflicts, while also insisting that great-power competition will reassert itself. Reading it now, two decades later, his warnings about the persistence of state rivalry and the limits of Western technological advantage feel uncomfortably prescient.
For military professionals, the value lies not in specific predictions but in Gray’s insistence on strategic humility. He urges practitioners to study history, respect the enemy’s will, and avoid assuming that new gadgets or doctrines will transform the essence of conflict. This is a book that challenges optimism and demands a sober appreciation of war’s enduring realities.
Another Bloody Century is less a forecast than a strategic primer: a reminder that while we may wish for peace, we must always prepare for war.