Rise and Fall of Network-Centric Warfare

The book "The Rise and Fall of Network Centric Warfare" explores how an ambitious theory of war emerged in the 21st century, faced critiques and resistance in US and global strategic-military circles, and was applied in active military operations in Afghanistan and Iraq. It also examines the impact of information and communication technologies on theorizing war and the potential of NCW as a revolutionary military concept to influence the future of war.

Format: Hardback
Length: 224 pages
Publication date: 01 January 2021
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

The Rise and Fall of Network Centric Warfare is a comprehensive account of the emergence and impact of a groundbreaking military theory in the early 21st century, particularly in the context of conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq. This work explores not only the theoretical foundations of Network Centric Warfare (NCW) but also its practical application on the battlefield.

Simultaneously, it delves into the challenges and complexities associated with the reinterpretation and rapid deployment of revolutionary military concepts in active combat environments. The book consists of two interconnected narrative themes that run concurrently and are intricately linked.

The first theme aims to trace the ontogenetic and phylogenetic processes through which NCW emerged as a novel theory of war. It explores the historical, social, and technological factors that shaped this theory and the critiques and resistance it faced within US and global strategic-military and military-bureaucratic circles. The second theme examines the impact of information and communication technologies on theorizing war and shaping emergent strategic-military postures. It identifies and explicates the performative contradiction inherited from previous discussions on the Revolution in Military Affairs and posits NCW as a revolutionary military concept with the potential to transform the conduct of war and influence military strategy.

In conclusion, The Rise and Fall of Network Centric Warfare provides a rich and insightful examination of the evolution and application of a critical military theory in the 21st century. It sheds light on the challenges and complexities of reinterpreting and deploying revolutionary military concepts in active battlefields, while also exploring the potential for NCW to shape the future of warfare. This work is essential for scholars, policymakers, and military professionals interested in understanding the dynamics of modern warfare and the role of technology in shaping military strategy.

Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781138925724