The Direction of War: Contemporary Strategy in Historical Perspective

In this engaging and thought-provoking book, Strachan examines the interaction of policy, strategy, and operational frameworks. Contending that the wars of the 21st Century in Iraq and Afghanistan have led to widespread frustration and a sense of failure, The Direction of War asserts that these failures resulted from fundamental misreading and misapplication of strategy. Using detailed historical studies leading into an analysis of modern civil-military relations, Strachan argues that the US and Britain must adopt a more historical approach to contemporary strategy to identify what is really changing – and what isn’t working – in how we wage war. A vital read for enhancing one’s understanding of national strategic thought.