Navies in Multipolar Worlds: From the Age of Sail to the Present

The book examines how navies in previous eras of multipolarity grappled with similar challenges, such as the evolution of French naval policy, the British response to multipolar threat environments, and the regional and global distribution of forces. It also addresses arms races, fleet design, logistics, technology, civil-naval relations, and grand strategy.

Format: Hardback
Length: 256 pages
Publication date: 16 October 2020
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

The recent challenges to US maritime predominance suggest a resurgence of great power competition at sea, and this new volume explores how navies in previous eras of multipolarity navigated similar challenges. The book follows the theme of multipolarity by examining a diverse range of historical and geographical case studies, ensuring both its historical analysis and policy implications remain central. It begins by tracing the evolution of French naval policy from the reign of Louis XIV to the end of the nineteenth century. It then delves into how the British responded to multipolar threat environments, convoys, demobilization challenges, and the enduring strength of British naval power during the interwar period. Additionally, the book offers insights into Japan's shift away from the sea, the Italian navy, and multipolarity in the Arctic. This volume also addresses the distribution of forces regionally and globally, trade and communication protection, arms races, the emergence of naval challengers, fleet design, logistics, technology, civil-naval relations, and grand strategy, both in the past and present.

This book holds significant appeal for students of naval history, strategic studies, and international relations history, as well as senior naval officers. Its comprehensive coverage and insightful analysis provide valuable insights into the complex dynamics of naval power and its role in shaping global affairs. By examining the experiences of past navies, this book offers valuable lessons and strategies for navigating the challenges and opportunities of the multipolar maritime landscape in the years to come.

Weight: 564g
Dimension: 163 x 240 x 23 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780367427221