Making sense of war
A trilogy on war’s causes, rooted in human nature and the structure of the international system, war’s progress, the result of the interface between politics, strategy and military force, and war’s conclusion, predicated on an aspiration for peace and justice
About War
About War, the first book in the trilogy Making Sense of War, examines war’s historical role in shaping empires, art, and literature. It stresses war as a political act which should be aimed at achieving peace and justice. The book evaluates current governance of wars within liberal democracies, arguing it may fail to address international realities. It also examines nuclear risks and the importance of non-proliferation, offering insights from the UK’s experience of war governance.
War in Context
War in Context, the second book in the Making Sense of War trilogy, explores war beyond warfare, emphasizing its political and social roots. It examines the state’s role in legitimizing war, military force in UK policy, and historical deployments. The book discusses terrorism post-9/11, nuclear strategy, technological warfare, and the moral implications of autonomous weapons, advocating for lasting peace.
War after Ukraine
War after Ukraine, the third in the Making Sense of War trilogy book asks how we view Russia, be that czarist, soviet, post-soviet or Putin, and their recidivist, revanchist worldview? Is ‘Europe’ together enough to cope? Lurking in both the Russian Federation and many other states is an increasing recognition of different nations within that state. And let’s not forget the ever present and worsening nuclear threat.