War and Power

Who Wins Wars—and Why
by Phillips Payson O'Brien
$30.00

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A bold, revisionist study of modern warfare, showing that military victory is rooted not in large armies and decisive battles, but in the full spectrum of economic, political, and social power

“Stimulating. ... Full of interesting facts and connections.” —Wall Street Journal

For nearly two centuries, international relations have been premised...
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Published By PublicAffairs

Format Hardback

Category

Number Of Pages 288

Publication Date 10/28/2025

ISBN 9781541606975

Dimensions 6.35 inches x 9.65 inches


“As wars rage across the world, Phillips O’Brien offers powerful insights into the past, present, and future of war and power. This book is vital reading for anyone grappling with America’s uncertain place in today’s global order.”—Alexander Vindman, New York Times–bestselling author of The Folly of Realism

“Phillips O'Brien is always fantastic. Heterodox. War and Power is a really interesting book.”—Paul Krugman

“Phillips O'Brien is one of the keenest observers of modern strategy, and his new book takes a deep historical look at the evolution of warfare and its implications for conflicts like the ongoing one in Ukraine.”—Francis Fukuyama, author of Liberalism and Its Discontents

“Phillips O’Brien is the rare historian who has something trenchant to say to students of contemporary warfare. As he points out in this important book, the character of war evolves, but some of the underlying truths, particularly from the Second World War, are still very much with us.”—Eliot A. Cohen, author of The Hollow Crown

“Stimulating. ... Full of interesting facts and connections.”—Wall Street Journal

 
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