Bibliograph

The sources of military doctrine, France, Britain, and Germany between the world wars, Barry R. Posen

Type

Label

The sources of military doctrine, France, Britain, and Germany between the world wars, Barry R. Posen

Language

eng

Bibliography note

Includes bibliographical references and index

Illustrations

maps

Index

index present

Literary Form

non fiction

Main title

The sources of military doctrine

Nature of contents

bibliography

Oclc number

17244569

Responsibility statement

Barry R. Posen

Series statement

Cornell studies in security affairs

Sub title

France, Britain, and Germany between the world wars

Summary

Barry R. Posen explores how military doctrine takes shape and the role it plays in grand strategy-that collection of military, economic, and political means and ends with which a state attempts to achieve security. Posen isolates three crucial elements of a given strategic doctrine: its offensive, defensive, or deterrent characteristics, its integration of military resources with political aims, and the degree of military or operational innovation it contains. He then examines these components of doctrine from the perspectives of organization theory and balance of power theory, taking into account the influence of technology and geography. Looking at interwar France, Britain, and Germany, Posen challenges each theory to explain the German Blitzkrieg, the British air defense system, and the French Army's defensive doctrine often associated with the Maginot Line. This rigorous comparative study, in which the balance of power theory emerges as the more useful, not only allows us to discover important implications for the study of national strategy today, but also serves to sharpen our understanding of the origins of World War II.--, Provided by publisher

Creator