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In the wake of the troubled campaigns in Afghanistan and Iraq, military decision-making appears to be in crisis and generals have been subjected to intense and sustained public criticism. Taking these interventions as a starting point, Anthony King examines the transformation of military command in the twenty-first century. Focusing on the army division, King argues that a phenomenon of collective command is developing. In the twentieth century, generals typically directed and led operations personally, monopolising decision-making. They commanded individualistically, even heroically. As operations have expanded in range and scope, decision-making has multiplied and diversified. As a result command is becoming increasingly professionalised and collaborative. Through interviews with many leading generals and vivid ethnographic analysis of divisional headquarters, this book provides a unique insight into the transformation of command in western armies.
Includes interviews with some of the most prominent generals of the current era (such as James Mattis, David Petraeus and Nick Carter)
Contains a highly original and detailed ethnography of the divisional headquarters, based on extensive fieldwork
Includes historical research back to the First World War of both counter-insurgency and conventional operations
Presents international comparisons of the major western powers (France, Germany, UK and US)
Description
In the wake of the troubled campaigns in Afghanistan and Iraq, military decision-making appears to be in crisis and generals have been subjected to intense and sustained public criticism. Taking these interventions as a starting point, Anthony King examines the transformation of military command in the twenty-first century. Focusing on the army division, King argues that a phenomenon of collective command is developing. In the twentieth century, generals typically directed and led operations personally, monopolising decision-making. They commanded individualistically, even heroically. As operations have expanded in range and scope, decision-making has multiplied and diversified. As a result command is becoming increasingly professionalised and collaborative. Through interviews with many leading generals and vivid ethnographic analysis of divisional headquarters, this book provides a unique insight into the transformation of command in western armies.
Includes interviews with some of the most prominent generals of the current era (such as James Mattis, David Petraeus and Nick Carter)
Contains a highly original and detailed ethnography of the divisional headquarters, based on extensive fieldwork
Includes historical research back to the First World War of both counter-insurgency and conventional operations
Presents international comparisons of the major western powers (France, Germany, UK and US)
