Overview

How has the concept of victory evolved, as the nature of conflict itself has changed across time, circumstance, and culture? And to what end? Robert Mandel addresses these questions, considering the meanings, misperceptions, and challenges associated with military victory in the context of the nontraditional wars of recent decades. Without an understanding of precisely what victory means, Mandel argues, the outcome can involve policy paralysis, loss of public support, escalating postwar violence, and ultimately, foreign policy failure. Grappling with the moral complexities of victory in limited war, he discusses issues of security, war crimes, self-determination, reconstruction, and social transformation. He also identifies common fallacies held by victors. Case studies of recent military actions, including the ongoing war in Iraq, inform a discussion of the usefulness of notions of victory in dealing with contemporary challenges.

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9781588264480

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Robert Mandel brings order to one of the puzzles of the international security environment after World War II: why aren't the powerful states able to win the wars in which they find themselves?... For anyone interested in the meaning of victory in war, this book is a must read. - Allan C. Stam, Dartmouth College The Meaning of Military Victory addresses a crucial, and understudied topic, in an expert and comprehensive way.... It is directly relevant to both the ongoing war in Iraq and the war on terror. - Dominic Johnson, Princeton University

Author Information

Robert Mandel is professor of international affairs at Lewis & Clark College. Among his many publications are Armies Without States and Security, Strategy, and the Quest for Bloodless War.

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