Promotion

Use code ARIES25 for 20% off sitewide + free shipping over $35

War and Power

Who Wins Wars—and Why

War and Power Open the full-size image

Contributors

By Phillips Payson O’Brien

Formats and Prices

Price

$30.00

Price

$40.00 CAD

Format

Format:

  1. Hardcover $30.00 $40.00 CAD
  2. ebook $18.99 $24.99 CAD

Also available from:

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

For nearly two centuries, international relations have been premised on the idea of the “Great Powers.” As the thinking went, these mighty states—the European empires of the nineteenth century, the United States and the USSR during the Cold War—were uniquely able to exert their influence on the world stage because of their overwhelming military capabilities. But as military historian Phillips Payson O’Brien argues in War and Power, this conception of power fails to capture the more complicated truth about how wars are fought and won. 

Our focus on the importance of large, well-equipped armies and conclusive battles has obscured the foundational forces that underlie military victories and the actual mechanics of successful warfare. O’Brien suggests a new framework of “full-spectrum powers,” taking into account all of the diverse factors that make a state strong—from economic and technological might, to political stability, to the complex logistics needed to maintain forces in the field. 

Drawing on examples ranging from Napoleon’s France to today’s ascendant China, War and Power offers a critical new understanding of what makes a power truly great. It is vital reading in today’s perilous world.

Genre:

On Sale
Oct 28, 2025
Page Count
288 pages
Publisher
PublicAffairs
ISBN-13
9781541606975

You May Also Like

The Future of War
The Future of War $18.99 $23.99 CAD
Phenomena
Phenomena $22.99 $29.99 CAD
The Grand Chessboard
The Grand Chessboard $18.99 $23.99 CAD
Europe
Europe $30.99 $39.99 CAD
The Seven Military Classics Of Ancient China
The Seven Military Classics Of Ancient China $24.99 $30.99 CAD

Phillips Payson O’Brien

About the Author

Phillips Payson O’Brien is a professor of strategic studies and head of the School of International Relations at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland. He is the author of six books, including The Strategists and The Second Most Powerful Man in the World. He is a regular contributor to Foreign Affairs and The Atlantic. Born and raised in Boston, he now lives in Scotland.

Learn more about this author