Transforming Military Power since the Cold War
Britain, France, and the United States, 1991–2012

An empirically rich account of how the West's main war-fighting armies have transformed since the end of the Cold War.

Theo Farrell (Author), Sten Rynning (Author), Terry Terriff (Author)

9781107621442, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 17 October 2013

318 pages, 6 b/w illus. 13 tables
22.7 x 15.2 x 1.7 cm, 0.46 kg

'This valuable book comes at a time when Western militaries face constrained budgets and the re-emergence of many of the same flawed ideas that underpinned the orthodoxy of the 'revolution in military affairs' in the 1990s. Success in military innovation depends on how civilian and military leaders manage the interaction between interests and ideas. As Western militaries develop new defence strategies, their leaders would be well advised to revisit their experiences with transformation across the first two decades of the post-Cold War period. Transforming Military Power would be a good place to start.' H. R. McMaster, Survival

This book provides an authoritative account of how the US, British, and French armies have transformed since the end of the Cold War. All three armies have sought to respond to changes in their strategic and socio-technological environments by developing more expeditionary capable and networked forces. Drawing on extensive archival research, hundreds of interviews, and unprecedented access to official documents, the authors examine both the process and the outcomes of army transformation, and ask how organizational interests, emerging ideas, and key entrepreneurial leaders interact in shaping the direction of military change. They also explore how programs of army transformation change over time, as new technologies moved from research to development, and as lessons from operations were absorbed. In framing these issues, they draw on military innovation scholarship and, in addressing them, produce findings with general relevance for the study of how militaries innovate.

1. Army transformation: imperatives and innovations
2. Transformation from the top down: the United States Army, 1991–2012
3. Transformation in contact: the British army, 1991–2012
4. Transformation as modernization: the French Army, 1991–2012
5. Conclusion: innovation and military power.

Subject Areas: International relations [JPS], Politics & government [JP], Military history [HBW]