
Strategy in the Contemporary World
Oxford University Press
8th Edition
Will be published approx. on 20. August 2026
Book
Paperback/Softback
528 pages
978-0-19-892021-2 (ISBN)
Description
The complete introduction to strategy in the contemporary world, which critically explores the enduring, present and emerging issues dominating the field of strategy.
This exploration of strategic studies gives students a complete introduction to strategic thinking, from historical and theoretical approaches to the contemporary issues and challenges facing strategists, and the world, today. A team of expert authors present readers with key debates and a range of perspectives, encouraging critical thinking.
Key Features
? Leading international scholars provide complete coverage of key enduring, contemporary and emerging issues in strategic studies
? Tailored learning features encourage students to develop critical thinking skills and encourage readers to reflect upon and evaluate a wide range of perspectives
? Also available as an e-book with functionality, navigation features, and links that offer extra learning support
New to this edition points
? Danielle F. S. Cohen, Director of the Public Policy Program at Lake Forest College, US, joins the editor team to bring new expertise and insight to the eighth edition.
? New chapter 4 on the evolution of warfare from 1990 to today by David Kilcullen explores how long- and medium-term trends in the environment, emerging and disruptive technologies, and the return of industrialized warfare have given rise to new domains, means, and methods of warfare.
? New chapter 12 on cyber security, espionage, and warfare by Kristan Stoddart explores the growing cybersecurity risks that accompany society's increasing dependence on information communications technologies.
? New chapter 13 on strategy and outer space by Peter Hays explores intelligence, civil, commercial, and defence space activity, and opportunities and challenges for space strategy
? Fully rewritten chapter on nuclear weapons, now authored by Jeffrey Michaels, explores the role of nuclear weapons in the first, second, and third nuclear ages.
The 8th edition is available for students and institutions to purchase in a variety of formats: the e-book and Politics Trove offer a mobile experience and convenient access along with customisable PowerPoints, test bank and question banks for lecturers, and Multiple-choice questions for students.
For more information about e-books, please visit www.oxfordtextbooks.co.uk/ebooks
This exploration of strategic studies gives students a complete introduction to strategic thinking, from historical and theoretical approaches to the contemporary issues and challenges facing strategists, and the world, today. A team of expert authors present readers with key debates and a range of perspectives, encouraging critical thinking.
Key Features
? Leading international scholars provide complete coverage of key enduring, contemporary and emerging issues in strategic studies
? Tailored learning features encourage students to develop critical thinking skills and encourage readers to reflect upon and evaluate a wide range of perspectives
? Also available as an e-book with functionality, navigation features, and links that offer extra learning support
New to this edition points
? Danielle F. S. Cohen, Director of the Public Policy Program at Lake Forest College, US, joins the editor team to bring new expertise and insight to the eighth edition.
? New chapter 4 on the evolution of warfare from 1990 to today by David Kilcullen explores how long- and medium-term trends in the environment, emerging and disruptive technologies, and the return of industrialized warfare have given rise to new domains, means, and methods of warfare.
? New chapter 12 on cyber security, espionage, and warfare by Kristan Stoddart explores the growing cybersecurity risks that accompany society's increasing dependence on information communications technologies.
? New chapter 13 on strategy and outer space by Peter Hays explores intelligence, civil, commercial, and defence space activity, and opportunities and challenges for space strategy
? Fully rewritten chapter on nuclear weapons, now authored by Jeffrey Michaels, explores the role of nuclear weapons in the first, second, and third nuclear ages.
The 8th edition is available for students and institutions to purchase in a variety of formats: the e-book and Politics Trove offer a mobile experience and convenient access along with customisable PowerPoints, test bank and question banks for lecturers, and Multiple-choice questions for students.
For more information about e-books, please visit www.oxfordtextbooks.co.uk/ebooks
More details
Edition
8th Revised edition
Language
English
Place of publication
Oxford
United Kingdom
Target group
College/higher education
Edition type
Revised edition
Illustrations
5
Dimensions
Height: 246 mm
Width: 189 mm
ISBN-13
978-0-19-892021-2 (9780198920212)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Persons
John Baylis is Emeritus Professor of Politics and International Relations and a former Pro-Vice Chancellor at Swansea University. Prior to that he was Professor of International Politics and Dean of Social Sciences at Aberystwyth University. He has published more than 20 books and over a hundred chapters and articles. His books include Sharing Nuclear Secrets: Trust, Mistrust and Ambiguity in Anglo-American Nuclear Relations since 1939, with Anthony Eames (Oxford University Press, 2023); The British Nuclear Experience: The Role of Beliefs, Culture and Identity, with Kristan Stoddart (Oxford University Press, 2015); The Makers of Nuclear Strategy, with John Garnett (Pinter, 1991); and The Globalization of World Politics, edited with Steve Smith and Patricia Owens (10th edn, Oxford University Press, 2026). He has a BA, MSc (Econ), PhD, and DLitt from Swansea and Aberystwyth Universities.
James J. Wirtz is a Professor of National Security Affairs at the Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, California. He is the author of Understanding Intelligence Failure (Routledge, 2017). Along with Loch Johnson, he is the editor of Intelligence: The Secret World of Spies (6th edn, Oxford University Press, 2022). He received his PhD from Columbia University.
Jeannie L. Johnson is the Founding Director of the Center for Anticipatory Intelligence at Utah State University and a Professor in the Political Science department. She is the author of The Marines, Counterinsurgency, and Strategic Culture: Lessons Learned and Lost in America's Wars (Georgetown University Press, 2018), and the co-editor of Routledge Handbook of Strategic Culture (Routledge, 2024) and Crossing Nuclear Thresholds: Leveraging Socio-Cultural Insights into Nuclear Decisionmaking (Palgrave Macmillan, 2018). Dr Johnson previously worked for the CIA's Directorate of Intelligence and the US State Department. She received her doctorate from the University of Reading in 2013.
Danielle F. S. Cohen is the Director of the Public Policy Program at Lake Forest College, where she teaches courses in public policy, international relations, and modern East Asian history. She is the co-author, with Gilbert Rozman and Yun Sun, of Xi Jinping's Quest for a Sinocentric Asia, 2013-2024: Deciphering Chinese Strategic Thinking in a Pivotal Period (Routledge, 2025) and has been a frequent contributor to The Asan Forum. She received her PhD in Government from Cornell University in 2016.
James J. Wirtz is a Professor of National Security Affairs at the Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, California. He is the author of Understanding Intelligence Failure (Routledge, 2017). Along with Loch Johnson, he is the editor of Intelligence: The Secret World of Spies (6th edn, Oxford University Press, 2022). He received his PhD from Columbia University.
Jeannie L. Johnson is the Founding Director of the Center for Anticipatory Intelligence at Utah State University and a Professor in the Political Science department. She is the author of The Marines, Counterinsurgency, and Strategic Culture: Lessons Learned and Lost in America's Wars (Georgetown University Press, 2018), and the co-editor of Routledge Handbook of Strategic Culture (Routledge, 2024) and Crossing Nuclear Thresholds: Leveraging Socio-Cultural Insights into Nuclear Decisionmaking (Palgrave Macmillan, 2018). Dr Johnson previously worked for the CIA's Directorate of Intelligence and the US State Department. She received her doctorate from the University of Reading in 2013.
Danielle F. S. Cohen is the Director of the Public Policy Program at Lake Forest College, where she teaches courses in public policy, international relations, and modern East Asian history. She is the co-author, with Gilbert Rozman and Yun Sun, of Xi Jinping's Quest for a Sinocentric Asia, 2013-2024: Deciphering Chinese Strategic Thinking in a Pivotal Period (Routledge, 2025) and has been a frequent contributor to The Asan Forum. She received her PhD in Government from Cornell University in 2016.
Editor
Emeritus Professor of Politics and International Relations and former Pro-Vice ChancellorEmeritus Professor of Politics and International Relations and former Pro-Vice Chancellor, Swansea University
Professor of National Security AffairsProfessor of National Security Affairs, Naval Postgraduate School
Director of Center for Anticipatory Intelligence and Associate ProfessorDirector of Center for Anticipatory Intelligence and Associate Professor, Utah State University
Director of the Public Policy ProgramDirector of the Public Policy Program, Lake Forest College
Content
1: Introduction: strategy in the contemporary world Part I: enduring issues of strategy 2: The history of the practice of strategy from antiquity to Napoleon 3: The evolution of modern warfare: Napolean-Cold War 4: The evolution of modern warfare: 1990-today 5: Strategic theory 6: The causes of war 7: Strategic culture 8: Law, politics, and the use of force 9: Technology and warfare 10: Intelligence and strategy 11: Strategic terrain 12: Cyber: security, espionage, and warfare 13: Strategy and outer space Part II: contemporary problems 14: Irregular warfare: terrorism and insurgency 15: Nuclear weapons in the Twenty-first Century 16: The control of weapons of mass destruction 17: Conventional power and contemporary warfare 18: Humanitarian intervention and peace operations 19: Geopolitics and grand strategy 20: Chinese grand strategy Part III: the future of strategy 21: Strategic studies: The West and the rest 22: Strategic studies and its critics 23: A new agenda for security and strategy? 24: The practice of strategy 25: Does strategic studies have a future?