New Books in Military History Jim Storr, "War and Warfare in the Twentieth Century" (Howgate Publishing, 2025)
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Mar 25, 2025 In this discussion, Jim Storr, a retired British Army officer and military thought scholar, explores the intricate lessons of 20th-century warfare. He distinguishes between war's outputs, like casualties, and true outcomes, emphasizing modern military analysis through complexity theory. Storr critiques conventional strategic models and underscores the need for clearer definitions in operational tactics. He also argues that losers typically learn more from conflicts, providing insights into significant historical examples and contemporary military challenges.
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Rise Of Campaign And Theatre Thinking
- WWII accelerated thinking about campaign and theatre levels; some forces already operated at campaign scale.
- Western Allies learned theatre-level thinking more slowly than Germans and Soviets.
Rationality In Nuclear Planning
- Considering nuclear use and deterrence is rational and moral because nuclear weapons exist.
- Ignoring nuclear possibilities would be an irresponsible omission in grand strategy.
Match Political Settlement To War Type
- Pursue political settlements tailored to the war's nature rather than assuming military victory solves all issues.
- Recognize when force majeure has already achieved the political end and adjust diplomacy accordingly.
