THE NEW RULES OF WAR
An urgent, fascinating exploration of warfare—past, present and future—and what we must do if we want to win today from an 82nd Airborne veteran, former private military contractor, and professor of war studies at the National Defense University.
The book delivers a highly provocative, even controversial, exploration of modern warfare and what we must do to win in the future. In this thorough, insightful analysis, Sean McFate carefully constructs ten rules for the future of military engagement, explaining how to fight and win in an age of entropy and a global system very different from the past: one where corporations, mercenaries, and rogue states have more power and ‘nation states’ have less.
THE NEW RULES OF WAR
How America Can Win--Against Russia, China, and Other Threats
War is timeless. Some things change—weapons, tactics, technology, leadership, objectives—but our desire to go into battle does not. We are living in the age of Durable Disorder—a period of unrest created by numerous factors: China’s rise, Russia’s resurgence, America’s retreat, global terrorism, international criminal empires, climate change, dwindling natural resources, and bloody civil wars.
This devastating turmoil has given rise to difficult questions. What is the future of war? How can we survive? If Americans are drawn into major armed conflict, can we win? McFate calls upon the legends of military study Carl von Clausewitz, Sun Tzu, and others, as well as his own experience, and carefully constructs the new rules for the future of war. With examples from the Roman conquest, World War II, Vietnam, Afghanistan and others, he tackles the differences between conventional and future war, the danger in believing that technology will save us, the genuine leverage of psychological and ‘shadow’ warfare, and much more. McFate’s new rules distill the essence of war today, describing what it is in the real world, not what we believe or wish it to be.
Some of these principles are ancient, others are new, but all will permanently shape war now and in the future. By following them he argues, we can prevail. But if we do not, terrorists, rogue states, and others who do not fight conventionally will succeed—and rule the world.
REVIEWS
"Stunning. Sean McFate is a new Sun Tzu."
ADMIRAL JAMES STAVRIDIS (RETIRED), FORMER SUPREME ALLIED COMMANDER OF NATO
"An important handbook for a new generation of warriors and a primer for the conduct of contemporary armed conflict. The question posed is how to secure a favorable outcome when the concept of victory is so fluid and shaped by perception as much as any military result."
SIR RICHARD DEARLOVE, FORMER DIRECTOR, MI6
"McFate's experience.. inform(s) this standout work of military science.. An authoritative and skillful analysis of the state of war today."
PUBLISHER'S WEEKLY
"The future is one of deep uncertainty and few offer a bold or clear exposition of its character. McFate has done just that and the results are both compelling and persuasive. If we heed his advice, we may make the necessary adjustments in time to avert a serious catastrophe."
PROFESSOR ROBERT JOHNSON, DIRECTOR OF THE CHANGING CHARACTER OF WAR PROGRAM, OXFORD UNIVERSITY
"This book isn't pretty, but it's necessary reading for the strategically minded."
KIRKUS REVIEWS
Meet The Author
