Conflict: The Evolution of Warfare from 1945 to Ukraine—Understanding Modern Warfare Today

by David Petraeus, Andrew Roberts

New York Times, USA Today, Amazon, and Publishers Weekly bestseller

Aspects of History, The Critic, Octavian, and Modern War Institute Book of the Year.

Two leading authorities—an acclaimed historian and the outstanding battlefield commander and strategist of our time—collaborate on a landmark examination of military history and war since 1945. Conflict is both a sweeping history of the evolution of warfare from the Cold War conflicts up to Putin’s invasion of the Ukraine, and a penetrating analysis of military strategy and what we must learn from the past—and anticipate in the future—in order to navigate an increasingly perilous world.

In this deep and incisive study, General David Petraeus, who commanded the US-led coalitions in both Iraq, during the Surge, and Afghanistan and former CIA director, and the prize-winning historian Andrew Roberts, explore over 70 years of conflict, drawing significant lessons and insights from their fresh analysis of the past. Drawing on their different perspectives and areas of expertise, Petraeus and Roberts show how often critical mistakes have been repeated time and again, and the challenge, for statesmen and generals alike, of learning to adapt to various new weapon systems, theories and strategies. Among the conflicts examined are the Arab-Israeli wars, the Korean and Vietnam Wars, the two Gulf Wars, the Balkan wars in the former Yugoslavia, and both the Soviet and Coalition wars in Afghanistan, as well as guerilla conflicts in Africa and South America. Conflict culminates with a bracing look at Putin’s disastrous invasion of Ukraine, yet another case study in the tragic results when leaders refuse to learn from history, and an assessment of the nature of future warfare. Filled with sharp insight and the wisdom of experience, Conflict is not only a critical assessment of our recent past, but also an essential primer of modern warfare that provides crucial knowledge for waging battle today as well as for understanding what the decades ahead will bring.

This essential study of modern warfare delivers critical lessons

The Evolution of Trace conflict from 1945 through the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan to the modern battlefield in Ukraine.Lessons from An incisive look at why statesmen and generals alike have repeated critical mistakes and the challenge of adapting to new technologies.Global Conflict In-depth case studies of the Arab-Israeli wars, Vietnam, the Falklands, the Balkans, and guerilla conflicts in Africa and South America.The Future of A bracing assessment of Putin’s invasion and a clear-eyed look at the technologies and strategies that will define the battlefields of tomorrow.

Genres: History, Military History

596 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 15, 2024

Reviews

[Cole Himali · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really loved this I think it's a really good introduction to many different conflicts and war strategy. I also think that if anyone is interested in this but intimidated by the page count they should just read at least the chapters on Ukraine and Gaza.

[Terry Tucker · Rating 5 out of 5]

First published in 2023 in the UK and again 2024, this book, written by a distinguished author, a soldier - scholar, analyzes conflict and lessons learned covering the period 1945 thru 2024. The book is very engaging and readable history. There are 11 chapter, a bibliography, extensive notes section, photo section and the usual other publisher sundries for just about 586 reading pages.

The book is not intended to be comprehensive history since 1945, and it is not a book about politics, however the author does show where the intersection of Clausewitz's most famous dictum crosses with military operations and policy. This is evident in all the chapters, but is more precise on this when you read chapter 6, The New World Disorder, 1991 to 1999

The first eight chapter follow a chronological history of how warfare has evolved. Subsequent chapters show how, where and why crucial changes have taken place, and the last chapter is the authors view to the future

Chapters 9 and 10, cover the most recent conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza. Chapter 11 is the authors version of what the future may look like. With all of the glaring lessons learned, a couple of things stand out to me that have not been discussed.

1. Where and how have Drones been used for a Screening Mission?
2. Where and how have drones and technology been used as an "Economy of Force" measure?
3. Where and how can drones be used with increased loiter and station time with stealth technology?

We know that swarms and glide bombs have been used to great effect and the Ukrainians have given the globes militaries a masterclass in innovation, adaptability, dispersion for effectiveness and effective small unit tactics. I would have thought by now that drones and technology would be used for more that validation of ISR and precision targeting.

If the mission is to screen an area, how and where can drone technology and or sensors be developed to perform that mission? Or where and how can a commander use drones and sensor technology to perform economy of force missions? When can Drones and sensors, with a very minimal to no boots on the ground perform economy of force in the defense so resources could be employed as either reserve or to reinforce other more known vulnerable areas?

Glaringly, the use of economics as a tool of war is not new, what is new is how Corporations have joined the fight by taking steps to reduce, move or quit operations above what sanctions may call for. What else is new is how satellite systems like Starlink vastly improved easily verifiable open-source intelligence that swiftly enabled precision targeting and maneuver.

Lessons Re-learned are that the Powel Doctrine is still valid and there are four major tasks that must be understood to implement strategic planning - mind you I did not say successfully, and that any student of warfare/conflict would know why. All in all, this is a great book, with lots of resource material and much to take notes, highlight and annotate on. This is an excellent reference book for modern conflict.
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[Liam · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an interesting book that discusses Warfare as it evolved from 1945-the Present.

Overall, I found this book to be an odd combination. While a majority of the chapters offer true insight into the ways in which war changed, from the beginning of Air Combat as a major feature of war, to the ways in which Counter-insurgency played a major part in many of the wars that have consumed the West. Yet, at the same time, the book at times seems incongruous. Small sections on the South Ossetian War, Rwanda, and arguably part of the Balkan Wars that offered little to the overall point of the book. I also found that a lot of the book was more or less a lead up to the Wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, which Petraeus offers great commentary on, as well as analysis. His section on Iraq and Afghanistan also offers points of failure throughout the tenure there, but at the same time, it does come across, at times, as a deflection from the fact that, arguably, the Global War on Terror, particularly in Afghanistan, is another Vietnam for America, wherein it failed to reach its goals.

I also found the chapter on Ukraine to be enlightening, offering insights into the War and into Putin's successes and failures. The section on Gaza, however, falls flat, with no real analysis of the war (which, given the fact the book was published during the war, makes sense), although he does showcase the ways in which the modern world with its technology has made even regional wars a product of a wider, worldwide community, where everyone has opinions, and the Court of Public Opinion's role in optics of war, and how there are often (un)intended consequences to actions.

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are few people more qualified to talk about modern warfare than General Petraeus, so I was glad to run across this book. The major post-World War II conflicts are summarized, and their military lessons distilled into nice bite-sized points. Petraeus and Roberts start by laying out four "major tasks" of overall leadership, and consider how the leaders of those conflicts measured up to those lessons in each conflict.
I feel as though the book was dominated by the Iraq and Afghanistan counterinsurgencies, with relatively little space devoted to other notables such as Yugoslavia, Rwanda, and the Gulf War. It does make sense, given Petraeus' direct experience with Iraq and Afghanistan, but I hoped to see more discussion of the other conflicts given the lessons Petraeus learned over the years.
Regardless, I think this is a valuable addition to the literature on modern warfare, and certainly one of the most current- its excellent chapters on Ukraine and Gaza cut through a lot of the dust being kicked up and allow you to see the military reality more clearly. Petraeus and Roberts should do more of these- they sort of remind me of the classic Keegan texts on warfare.

[Patrick Riley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very insightful and interesting, but too long and repetitive. In short, one cannot fight modern wars as WWII was. von Clausewitz said that warfare was politics by other means. Chinese civil war that guerilla war by a smaller force according to Maoist principles could defeat a Western backed force. Namely, a long-drawn-out war, building bases and popular support and military power, and then toppling the government with superior forces. Modern war will be fought with drones, in cyberspace, with AI, robotic warfare, as well as nucellar bombs, ground fighting. Only the dead have seen the end of war (Plato).

[Joshua Heller · Rating 3 out of 5]

there's a lot of good in this book in terms of policies that were implemented, technologies that are forming how we are handling the future warfare, and what strategic leaders should do. However, it should be noted that general petraeus took this opportunity to blame everyone else on the failures in Iraq and Afghanistan. Additionally the chapter on Ukraine reads more of a propaganda book praising Ukraine than an actual deep dive. Not to say that the Ukraine chapter is useless. there is lots of good in it. It's just in between the lines of him calling Zelinski the modern day Churchill and calling everyone heroic.

[Bjorn Anderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I very much enjoyed this book. I purchased after hearing General Petraeus give a talk last fall during which he spoke about the state of the world. The book is lengthy and covers many conflicts post WWII with insights on strategies, tactics, and leadership. It's an informative read in light of current world events.

[Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

very well researched and referenced. veers a bit in the Afghanistan/Ukraine chapters and could benefit from clearer focus on the overarching evolution