Learning from foreign wars

Gudrun Persson’s 'Learning from Foreign Wars' analyzes how Russian military thinkers in the late 19th century studied foreign conflicts to inform doctrine and practice between 1859 and 1873.

Using archival and contemporary sources, the book explores intellectual debates within the Russian officer corps about technology, tactics, and the role of the military in state-building after defeats like the Crimean War. Persson traces how lessons drawn abroad interacted with domestic political and cultural factors, shaping Russia’s strategic outlook.

The work highlights key figures and institutions that mediated military learning and reform during a transformative period in Russian history.

It contributes to understanding the long-term roots of Russian strategic culture and institutional behavior.