Conflict

The Evolution of Warfare From 1945 to Ukraine

By David Petraeus and Andrew Roberts
Published by William Collins
RRP $37.99 in paperback | ISBN 9780008567989

This book has been widely praised since its publication in 2023.

Noted military historian Professor Hew Strachan described the collaboration between David Petraeus, a famous US general whose name and exploits are well known, and Andrew Roberts, a distinguished bestselling historian, as ‘a marriage made in heaven’, describing it as a book to ‘challenge the professional and enlighten the generalist’.

Conflict is both a sweeping history of the evolution of warfare up to Putin’s invasion of Ukraine, and a penetrating analysis of what we must learn from the past, and anticipate in the future, in order to navigate an increasingly perilous world.

In exploring over seventy years of conflict, Petraeus and Roberts show how often critical mistakes have been repeated time and again, and explore the challenge, for statesmen and generals alike, of learning to adapt to various new weapon systems, theories and strategies.

Among the conflicts examined are the Arab – Israeli wars, the Korean and Vietnam wars, the two Gulf wars, the Balkan wars in the former Yugoslavia, and both the Soviet and Coalition wars in Afghanistan, as well as guerrilla conflicts in Africa and South America.

The book culminates with a searing look at Putin’s disastrous invasion of Ukraine and an assessment of the nature of future warfare. Their analysis of Russian military shortcomings makes for fascinating reading.

The authors believe the first year of the Ukrainian war will be taught in staff colleges around the world for decades to come, a masterclass in ‘how not to fight a war’.

And what of the future of warfare?

Open-source intelligence – unclassified and publicly available (think commercial satellite images and mobile phone data) – is already being used extensively in the Russian-Ukrainian conflict.

In the end the authors urge deterrence. While acknowledging the high cost of preparedness, the higher cost is counted in ‘blood and treasure’ when deterrence fails.

VERDICT: A thought-provoking book suitable for professionals and general readers alike who share an interest in the study of war and military strategy.