Seapower: A Guide for the Twenty-First Century

Riigikaitse raamatukogu

by Geoffrey Till

This is the fourth, revised and updated, edition of Geoffrey Till's Seapower: A Guide for the Twenty-first Century.

The rise of the Chinese and other Asian navies, worsening quarrels over maritime jurisdiction and the United States’ maritime pivot towards the Asia-Pacific region reminds us that the sea has always been central to human development as a source of resources, and as a means of transportation, information-exchange and strategic dominion. It has provided the basis for mankind's prosperity and security, and this is even more true in the early twenty-first century, with the emergence of an increasingly globalised world trading system. Navies have always provided a way of policing, and sometimes exploiting, the system. In contemporary conditions, navies, and other forms of maritime power, are having to adapt, in order to exert the maximum power ashore in the company of others and to expand the range of their interests, activities and responsibilities. While these new tasks are developing fast, traditional ones still predominate. Deterrence remains the first duty of today’s navies, backed up by the need to ‘fight and win’ if necessary. How navies and their states balance these two imperatives will tell us a great deal about our future in this increasingly maritime century. This book investigates the consequences of all this for the developing nature, composition and functions of all the world's significant navies, and provides a guide for anyone interested in the changing and crucial role of seapower in the twenty-first century.

Seapower is essential reading for all students of naval power, maritime security and naval history, and highly recommended for students of strategic studies, international security and international relations.

Genres: Military Fiction, History, Nonfiction, Military History, Naval History, War

476 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2001

About the author

Geoffrey Till is a British naval historian and Professor of Maritime Studies in the Defence Studies Department of King’s College London.

Reviews

[Preston · Rating 3 out of 5]

An excellent summary of the many reasons and uses for a Navy.

[Allie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good analysis of naval seapower.

[Jon Klug · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am glad I read this book again cover to cover. I found Chapters 3 - 8 useful (who said what and why it matters, the constituents of seapower, navies and technology, command of the sea and sea control, securing command of the sea, and exploiting command of the sea). Chapters 3 and 4 were especially useful to me. Overall, this book is useful for those interested in strategy, military and naval history, and the future of the sea.

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

Intresting read, if a little heavy going at times.