Strategy, International & World Politics, History & Theory, Specialty Boutique, Relations 

In this volume, Professor Colin Gray develops and applies the theory and scholarship on the allegedly historical practice of the 'Revolution in Military Affairs' (RMA), in order to improve our comprehension of how and why strategy 'works'.The author explores the RMA hypothesis both theoretically and historically. The book argues that the conduct of an RMA has to be examined as a form of strategic behaviour, which means that, of necessity, it must "work" as strategy works. The great RMA debate of the 1990s is reviewed empathetically, though sceptically, by the author, with every major school of thought allowed its day in court.The author presents three historical RMAs as case studies for his argument: those arguably revealed in the wars of the French Revolution and Napoleon; in World War I; and in the nuclear age. The focus of his analysis is how these grand RMAs functioned strategically. The conclusions that he draws from these empirical exercises are then applied to help us understand what, indeed, is - and what is not - happening with the much vaunted information-technology-led RMA of today. - from Amzon 

CONTENTS
1. High Concept………………………………………………………………………..p. 1
Strategy, Complex and Sometimes Nonlinear……………….p. 3
The Argument……………………………………………………………….p. 8
History and Social Science…………………………………………….p. 13
The Making of a Great Debate………………………………………p. 17
Method and Trajectory………………………………………………….p. 20

2. RMA Anatomy: Patterns in History?..........................................p. 31
Warning Label………………………………………………………………….p. 31
Anatomy of Species…………………………………………………………p. 35
A Question of Continuity………………………………………………….p. 53

3. RMA Dynamics………………………………………………………………………..p. 67
Provenance………………………………………………………………………p. 70
RMA Life-cycle………………………………………………………………….p. 75
Clarifying Confusion………………………………………………………….p. 81

4. On Strategy, I: Chaos Confounded?.............................................p. 90
What is Strategic?..................................................................p. 91
Permanent Nature, Changing Character……………………………p. 94
Chaos and Prediction……………………………………………………….…p. 98
Is Strategy Chaotic?....................................................p.109

5. On Strategy, II: The RMA Connection……………………………………..…p. 117
RMA as Strategic Behaviour………………………………………......…p. 119
A Matter of Dimension……………………………………………….........p. 121
Theory and Practice ……………………………………………………..p.129

6. Case Study I: The Napoleonic RMA……………………………………......…..p. 138
Napoleon and Modern War…………………………………………......….p. 140
RMA Life-cycle……………………………………………………………......……p. 140
Strategic Behaviour……………………………………………………......…….p.156

7. Case Study II: The RMA of the First World War…………………......…….p.170
The Great Artillery War…………………………………………………..........p.173
RMA Life-cycle…………………………………………………………………........p. 176
Strategic Behaviour ……………………………………………............p.202

8. Case Study III: The Nuclear RMA…………………………………………........….p.222
Two Revolutions…………………………………………………………........…….p.224
RMA Life-cycle……………………………………………………………........…….p. 225
Strategic Behaviour p. 252

9. Strategy as a Duel: RMA Meets the Enemy……………………..............…p. 270
Politics and RMAs……………………………………………………….........…….p. 271
Envoi: Strategy and History……………………………………….......………p. 283
Select Bibliography………………………………………………………….........……p. 292