War and the Art of Governance: Consolidating Combat Success into Political Victory

by Nadia Schadlow

Success in war ultimately depends on the consolidation of political order. Nadia Schadlow argues that the steps needed to consolidate a new political order are not separate from war. They are instead an essential component of war and victory.

The challenge of governance operations did not start with the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The US Army’s involvement in the political and economic reconstruction of states has been central to all its armed conflicts from large-scale conventional wars to so-called irregular or counterinsurgency wars. Yet, US policymakers and military leaders have failed to institutionalize lessons on how to consolidate combat gains into desired political outcomes. War and the Art of Governance examines fifteen historical cases of US Army military interventions, from the Mexican War through the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Improving future outcomes will require US policymakers and military leaders to accept that plans, timelines, and resources must be shaped to reflect this reality before they intervene in a conflict, not after things go wrong.

Schadlow provides clear lessons for students and scholars of security studies and military history, as well as for policymakers and the military personnel who will be involved in the next foreign intervention.

341 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 1, 2017

Reviews

[Daniel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Terrific book. Schadlow, who is the current NSC deputy uses the case study method to examine America's success and failures in consolidating military victory. Schadlow argues that governance has been and always will be a key aspect of military operations, especially for the army, which is unique in its ability to gain and hold territory. Further, Schadlow makes the case that principles of war, specifically mass, still matter after major combat operations. When looking at force structure, the army needs to consider the capabilities to provide governance in the immediate aftermath of major combat operations. Simply wishing away the task to other government agencies who are not manned to do the job is the wrong path to take.
Other interesting points is her critique of the 6-Phase model, which she argues led to linear thinking of when to begin governance and transition. Using the model, planners in Iraq waited until the beginning of Phase 4 to begin governance, in lieu of simultaneous combat and governance in rear areas. This led to the U.S. losing the initiative in multiple areas where Shia militias supported by Iran filled governance gaps.

[Yassar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nadia Schadlow has done excellent research while writing on an important subject( War and Art of Governance). Civilian supremacy is consider important in democratic word but during war or even after the war military must be given operational responsibility of governance tasks. With this theme she bring some important and pertinent facts out of US experience of different wars (from Mexican-American War up-till Afg-Iraq conflict). She believes rightly that despite spending billion of US taxpayers money, consolidating of gains were not proportional to the input in-terms of blood and money. She draws out 5 imp recom which are pertinent to current and for future war scenarios as well. Wether Bureaucrats, Soldiers or analyst this book can provide answer to ime if the important question: How can peace be won after winning war?