Victory in War
Foundations of Modern Strategy

This book explores the historical origins of victory.

William C. Martel (Author)

9780521177733, Cambridge University Press

Paperback, published 13 June 2011

592 pages, 5 b/w illus.
22.9 x 15.4 x 2.8 cm, 0.8 kg

“William Martel has provided a very useful summary of the thinking about and meaning of victory throughout history, which will enrich our discussions about the wars with which we are presently involved.”
– Robert D. Kaplan, Senior Fellow, Center for a New American Security

War demands that scholars and policy makers use victory in precise and coherent terms to communicate what the state seeks to achieve in war. The failure historically to define victory in consistent terms has contributed to confused debates when societies consider whether to wage war. This volume explores the development of a theoretical narrative or language of victory to help scholars and policy makers define carefully and precisely what they mean by victory in war in order to achieve a deeper understanding of victory as the foundation of strategy in the modern world.

1. Introduction
2. Foundations of a general theory of victory
3. Historical origins of victory
4. Modern origins of victory
5. American experience with victory
6. American logic of victory
7. 1986 raid on Libya
8. 1989 invasion of Panama
9. 1991 Persian Gulf War
10. Intervention in Bosnia, Kosovo, 1992–1999
11. Intervention in Afghanistan, 2001–2010
12. 2003 invasion of Iraq
13. Influence of military power on victory
14. Conclusion.

Subject Areas: Settlement of international disputes [LBH], Public international law [LBB]