Technological Change and the Future of Warfare

by Michael E. O'Hanlon

Examines the hypothesis that the U.S. should reshape budgetary priorities, warfighting structures, and weaponry in the near future to achieve what is called a revolution in military affairs (RMA). O'Hanlon (senior fellow in foreign policy studies, Brookings Institution) describes the origins of the RMA debate and the various schools of thought within it, then proceeds to dispute arguments for RMA. While conceding that technology trends should be exploited, O'Hanlon wants less emphasis placed on modernizing large weaponry such as ships, tanks, and planes, and argues against the possibility of ever verifiably eliminating nuclear and biological weapons from the earth. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR

224 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2000

Reviews

[Stephen · Rating 3 out of 5]

O'Hanlon has some interesting thoughts on the next several decades of warfare. Though I didn't agree with them all, they were thought-provoking.