Making Sense of War

War, like death and taxes, seems eternal but is it inevitable? Do nations simply blunder into it? What is victory and how is it achieved? The author of this original and lively study answers these and other perennial questions about War and Warfare (not the same thing) that scholars often ignore. Pike explains how strategy fuses objectives and action, how war leaders invariably (and literally) lose the plot, how the relationship between generals and politicians is key. He looks at nuclear war and provides some provocative insights, he argues that Mutually Assured Destruction (MAD) — while a hideous concept — provides strategic stability. He also highlights the absurdity and folly of past wars — football wars, wars about pigs or ears — but stresses that wars, a last resort once diplomacy has failed, are lost by those blinded by hubris, irresolution or simple strategic confusion. This is the first volume in a trilogy 'Making Sense of War'. 'War in Context' will be published in the spring/summer of 2022.

This final volume in the Making Sense of War trilogy, builds upon the concepts and reassessments of its predecessors, nbsp;About War and War in Context. War after Ukraine offers a compelling analysis of Russia's historic use of force, the Ukraine war, and the reasons behind Putin's aggression. Christopher Pike challenges the argument that provocations - like Western's smug satisfaction at communism's demise, nationalism and NATO expansion - gave Putin excuses to invade. While the invasion prompts calls for greater European unity, Pike warns of the current limitations of Western intervention, especially in the face of potential Russian aggression in other regions: Europe cannot defend itself. The book also recognises the subtle difference and interaction between the state, the nation and the nation state, a concept which is becoming increasingly vital in understanding the current and future international political environment. Pike examines the evolution of nuclear strategy, noting stubborn narratives of Russia as a persistent threat. The West's policy is rooted in Cold War thinking, despite political and scientific upheaval. A reassessment of nuclear strategies in the light of contemporary geopolitical realities is urgently needed. War After Ukraine also provides insight into the future of war and international relations and calls for more subtle and better informed diplomacy to reflect the rational and irrational concerns of current and putative adversaries. Makingsenseofwar. com