The Use of Force after the Cold War

The end of the Cold War created a near-euphoria that nations might resort less to military force and that the Doomsday nuclear clock might stop short of midnight. Events soon dashed the higher of these hopes, but the nature of military force and the uses to which it might be put did appear to be changing.

In this volume eleven leading scholars apply their particular expertise to understanding what (if anything) has changed and what has not, why the patterns are as they are, and just what the future might bring.

Together, the authors address political, moral, and military factors in the decision to use or avoid military force. Case studies of the Gulf War and Bosnia, analyses of the role of women in the armed forces and the role of intelligence agencies, and studies of inter-branch and inter-agency tensions and cooperation inform the various chapters. A strong and thoughtful introduction by H. W. Brands provides the context that ties together the themes and perspectives.

Scholars in this distinguished collection include Stephen Biddle, Alexander L. George, J. Bryan Hehir, Andrew Kohut, Andrew Krepinevich, James M. Lindsay, Charles Moskos, Williamson Murray, Bruce Russett, Tony Smith, and Susan L. Woodward. The volume will help scholars, policy makers, and concerned citizens contemplate national alternatives when force threatens.

H. W. Brands is a professor of history and coordinator of the Program in Foreign Relations and the Presidency, Center for Presidential Studies, George Bush School of Government and Public Service, Texas A&M University. He is the author of more than a dozen books on U.S. history and foreign relations, including The Foreign Policies of Lyndon Johnson: Beyond Vietnam, published by Texas A&M University Press.