Wars of Revelation: The Transformative Effects of Military Intervention on Grand Strategy

Wars of Revelation by Rebecca Lissner explains how military interventions can be crucibles of grand strategy, testing strategic axioms on the battlefield and prompting combatant states to reconceive their global roles. Through detailed historical case studies of US involvement in the Korean, Vietnam, and Persian Gulf Wars, Lissner presents a fresh perspective on the origins and evolutions of US grand strategy.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 240 pages
Publication date: 24 March 2022
Publisher: Oxford University Press Inc

Wars of Revelation, a profound and insightful work, delves into the intricate connections between military interventions and the evolution of the United States' global role. With a rich tapestry of historical detail and theoretical insight, the book offers a comprehensive examination of why these interventions have repeatedly shaped the nation's strategic landscape and what implications they hold for the future of American grand strategy.

More than seventy-five years after the conclusion of World War II, military interventions have emerged as a defining feature of contemporary geopolitics. These smaller-scale conflicts, rather than full-fledged wars, have taken center stage in shaping the international order. However, despite the intense policy debates surrounding interventions and their lessons learned, scholars have paid limited attention to the systematic linkages between these wars and transformations in the grand strategies of states that engage in them.

In her book, Wars of Revelation, Rebecca Lissner seeks to rectify this oversight by exploring the critical role that military interventions can play in shaping grand strategy. Through detailed historical case studies of the United States' involvement in the Korean, Vietnam, and Persian Gulf Wars, Lissner demonstrates how each intervention served as a crucible for testing strategic axioms and prompting combatant states to reevaluate their global roles. By focusing on these three wars of revelation, Lissner provides a fresh perspective on the origins and evolution of US grand strategy, spanning from the dawn of the Cold War to its twilight.

Lissner's argument is persuasive and historically illuminating. She argues that military interventions can be crucibles of grand strategy, testing the validity of strategic assumptions and forcing states to reassess their capabilities and intentions. Through meticulous analysis of these wars, Lissner reveals the insights gained into the strengths and weaknesses of America's international adversaries, as well as the potential and limitations of its own national power.

The book is organized into three distinct chapters, each dedicated to exploring the lessons learned from a particular intervention. In the first chapter, Lissner examines the Korean War, highlighting the strategic miscalculations that led to the United States' involvement and the profound insights it provided into the nature of the Soviet Union and North Korea. The second chapter delves into the Vietnam War, examining the complex web of political, economic, and military factors that shaped the conflict and the lessons learned from America's engagement. The third chapter focuses on the Persian Gulf War, examining the role of technology, media, and public opinion in shaping the conflict and the implications for US grand strategy.

Throughout the book, Lissner employs a rich mix of primary sources, secondary literature, and analytical frameworks to provide a comprehensive and nuanced understanding of the historical context and strategic implications of these wars. She skillfully weaves together historical narratives, policy debates, and strategic analysis to offer a holistic perspective on the evolution of US grand strategy.

Wars of Revelation is an essential reading for anyone interested in crafting, studying, or following international security policy. It provides a valuable contribution to the ongoing debate about the role of military interventions in shaping the global order and offers insightful perspectives on the origins and evolutions of US grand strategy. By examining the systematic linkages between military interventions and grand strategy, Lissner sheds light on the complex dynamics that drive international relations and the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead for the United States in the 21st century.

Dimension: 235 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780197583197