Political Warfare : Strategies for Combating China’s Plan to "Win Without Fighting"

by Kerry K. Gershaneck, Marine Corps University Press

Political Warfare provides a well researched and wide-ranging overview of the nature of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) threat and the political warfare strategies, doctrines, and operational practices used by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). The author offers detailed and illuminating case studies of PRC political warfare operations designed to undermine Thailand, a U.S. treaty ally, and Taiwan, a close friend.

Genres: China

215 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2020

Reviews

[Yann Roshdy]

Very good introduction book for the CCP's historic use of political warfare operations with analysis covering operations in Thailand and Taïwan. It also provides an introduction part so that you can understand the terms and definitions. At the end Gershankek enumerates a series of useful tips and solutions to counter CCP's influence in USA and elsewhere.

[Martin]

Interesting case studies on Thailand and Taiwan.

[Ned Holt]

The book conveys the message of Chinese political warfare, but there are a few issues with the writing, citations, and their relevance that detract from the message and make it harder to take the author seriously. The author talks a big game about the subject but fails to provide relevant evidence, overuses the same sources, and repeatedly cites himself as a reference throughout the book.

The author's tone is strident and harsh throughout the book as he seems to be the only person who understands the problem. This type of work makes him sound like a scold or a crank, which limits its effectiveness.

He also has a curious habit of writing the entire name of a US president or vice president and using their nickname when not required, "Vice President Michael 'Mike' Pence," for example, but fails to follow the same formula for President Eisenhower, who arguably has the most recognizable nickname of all former presidents.

[SLAM]

Excellent, short, two excellent case studies of PRC political warfare against Thailand and Taiwan. Call a spade a spade.