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The Revolution in Military Affairs (RMA), unleashed by the integration of information technologies into weapons systems, military units, and operations is a phenomenon whose impacts have been felt well beyond the Gulf in 1991 or the Balkans in 1999. Technological developments lie at the center of these changes; however, the RMA is about more than technology. It includes the consequences of technological changes for defense and security. This study provides an assessment of the RMA that goes beyond a mere description of new defense-related technologies to deal with deeper, more fundamental issues.
Through the contributions of American, Canadian, Chinese, and French experts, this book surveys the RMA from various perspectives and evaluates it from the standpoints of military history and military science. The authors conclude that, while the RMA represents a significant challenge for defense establishments, it may fall short of being truly revolutionary. Whether one looks at power projection or information warfare, it appears that emerging technologies will translate into significant improvements in capabilities, but not necessarily a revolution in warfare. From a comparative perspective, the United States remains well ahead in thinking of and implementing changes that stem from the RMA, although other nations may make selective use of the RMA to promote regional security goals.
List of contents
Introduction: Sizing up the Revolution in Military Affairs by Thierry Gongora and Harald von Riekhoff
"Military Revolutions" and "Revolutions in Military Affairs:" A Historian's Perspective by Clifford J. Rogers
What is Information Warfare? by Martin C. Libicki
Emerging Technologies and Military Affairs by Col. Howard J. Marsh
The "American Revolution in Military Affairs" A French Perspective by Yves Boyer
The Labor of Sisyphus: Forecasting the Revolution in Military Affairs during Russia's Time of Troubles by Jacob W. Kipp
The PLA's Revolution in Operational.Ar Retrospects and Prospects by Jianxiang Bi
RMA or New Operational Art? A View from France by Francois Géré
Force Projection: One-and-a-Half Cheers for the RMA by Glenn C. Buchan
The Military-Industrial Correlates of the RMA: The Evolution of Agile Manufacturing by Andrew Latham
Bibliography
Index
About the author
THIERRY GONGORA is Research Associate with the Institut quebecois des hautes etudes internationales, Universite Laval, Quebec City. He has published on defense issues and Middle East affairs in such journals as
Defense Analysis and the
International Journal of Middle East Studies.
HARALD VON RIEKHOFF is Professor of Political Science at Carleton University in Ottawa, Canada. He is the author and editor of several books dealing with German foreign policy, NATO, arms control, and Canada-U.S. relations.
