War Transformed: The Future of Twenty-First Century Great Power Competition and Conflict

Ongoing significant technological changes and the ability of military institutions worldwide to adapt to them are at the centre of many major contributions to the strategic studies literature this decade. Many authors are looking into the revolutionary technologies that promise to drastically change the character (or, perhaps, even the nature) of war by the end of the century. In contrast, others have concentrated on the mechanisms and dynamics of military adaptation. Generally, these two intellectual currents look at different timelines as the former inevitably projects current developments into the future, while the latter seeks guidance from the past. Among these works, War Transformed: The Future of Twenty-First Century Great Power Competition and Conflict by Australian Major General Mick Ryan, who has recently retired, stands out as a unique volume which aims to draw on these two scholarly tendencies and project them into the future. With a career in the Australian Army spanning more than three decades and an outstanding dedication to military education, Ryan is in the ideal position to deliver an instructive volume that synthesises the critical challenges of this era for military practitioners. And, indeed, his work does not fail to meet its high expectations. At the core, War Transformed sums up all the major challenges for 21st-century military establishments and seeks to guide their members as they navigate towards an era when human contribution to war will be challenged as never before. Chapter One is solely dedicated to listing and studying the many transformations and revolutions testing military institutions and their approaches. Perhaps the least engaging part of the book, this chapter is a necessary step into Ryan’s reasoning. Because the shifts in the security environment are not limited to changes in technology but rather slide into the socioeconomic sphere, military practitioners need to meet the challenge of the forthcoming times and think about solutions from a new perspective. Far from being a warning or praise of technological innovation in the military, Ryan’s book is a heartfelt invitation to armed forces personnel to broaden their horizons and become protagonists of military change throughout the century. Chapters Three and Four lay down the potential of an active and creative military institution and represent the essence of Ryan’s work as an educator. With a clear style and fluent prose, Ryan shares his passion for the military educational process and encourages peers and students alike not to be shy in the face of fast-paced technological advancement.