War and Power

A bold, revisionist study which challenges modern misconceptions about the creation of power and the operations of war, from a Professor of Strategic Studies

War and power are some of the most-widely discussed issues in all of human history and yet they are, time and again, misunderstood- often disastrously so. Whilst we might think the outcome of war is determined by so-called 'Great Powers' who dominate their opponents with their impressive size and military prowess, the reality of modern conflict, as Professor Phillips Payson O'Brien demonstrates, is very different.

In War and Power, renowned strategic historian O'Brien shows us that we need to think less about weapons and battles, and more about the economies, politics and societies that produce them. From the power of individual leaders to the structural forces that shape society, and even the alliance under which states operate, we see that when we focus on solely on militaries and equipment, we miss what really matters in war.

In this bold new analysis of modern warfare, O'Brien challenges some of the most common misunderstandings around recent conflicts, from historic regimes like Mao's China and Mussolini's Italy, to contemporary examples including the US's continued approach to the War on Terror. Importantly, we also see how these misconceptions can lead to disastrous consequences for those involved, most pertinently in the Russo-Ukrainian war.

War and Power offers a radical new insight into the phenomena that shape societies, politics and life itself.

About the Author

Phillips Payson O’Brien is Professor of Strategic Studies at St Andrews. He is the author of How the War Was Won- Air-Sea Power and Allied Victory in World War II and The Second Most Powerful Man in the World- The Life of Admiral William D. Leahy, Roosevelt’s Chief of Staff. He has written for The Atlantic, The Spectator and Foreign Affairs, and has a combined following of over 200k on Twitter and Substack. This is his first trade book.