Military Transformation and Modern Warfare

Military transformation can be understood as comprising three overlapping and sometimes competing layersthe conventional-force dominated revolution in military affairs a more recent irregular warfare emphasis and a wider dimension including homeland defense space and nuclear policy. The Western world is currently focusing its attention on transformation''s middle layer while China and Russia are focusing on the RMA and transformation''s wider aspects. This dynamic indicates the United States and its allies should continue to prepare for the full range of conflicts.This book establishes the meaning of military transformation assesses the manner in which certain countries are transforming their military forces discusses the relevancy of transformation efforts to modern conflict and in drawing out the key areas of emphasis on the part of various countries provides a window on the future global security environment. It is divided into seven chapters plus a conclusion. The first chapter focuses on the meaning of military transformation establishing a framework through which national militaries can be examined. This comprises transformation''s revolution in military affairs components its newer special operations forces counterinsurgency and stabilization and reconstruction aspects and its wider homeland defense space and deterrence dimensions. The book devotes two chapters to the United States and one each to China Russia and NATO. It also has a chapter that looks individually at each of Australia Britain Canada France and Germany. An assessment of the relevancy of force transformation to modern warfare is integrated into the discussion of what transformation means how the United States is responding and the concluding chapter. The book contains a biographical sketch of Andrew Marshall Andrew Krepinevich William Owens Arthur Cebrowski Donald Rumsfeld and Thomas Barnett all of whom have been involved in some aspect of military transformation.