Price: $46.95 - $30.35
(as of Mar 04, 2025 20:11:48 UTC – Details)
As U.S. strategy shifts (once again) to focus on great power competition, Strategy Shelved provides a valuable, analytic look back to the Cold War era by examining the rise and eventual fall of the U.S. Navy’s naval strategy system from the post-World War II era to 1994. Steven T. Wills draws some important conclusions that have relevance to the ongoing strategic debates of today. His analysis focuses on the 1970s and 1980s as a period when U.S. Navy strategic thought was rebuilt after a period of stagnation during the Vietnam conflict and its high water mark in the form of the 1980s’maritime strategy and its attendant six hundred -ship navy force structure. He traces the collapse of this earlier system by identifying several contributing factors: the provisions of the Goldwater Nichols Act of 1986, the aftermath of the First Gulf War of 1991, the early 1990s revolution in military affairs, and the changes to the Chief of Naval Operations staff in 1992 following the end of the Cold War. All of these conditions served to undermine the existing naval strategy system. The Goldwater Nichols Act subordinated the Navy to joint control with disastrous effects on the long-serving cohort of uniformed naval strategists. The first Gulf War validated Army and Air Force warfare concepts developed in the Cold War but not those of the Navy’s maritime strategy. The Navy executed its own revolution in military affairs during the Cold War through systems like AEGIS but did not get credit for those efforts. Finally, the changes in the Navy (OPNAV) staff in 1992 served to empower the budget arm of OPNAV at the expense of its strategists. These measures laid the groundwork for a thirty-year “strategy of means” where service budgets, a desire to preserve existing force structure, and lack of strategic vision hobbled not only the Navy, but also the Joint Force’s ability to create meaningful strategy to counter a rising China and a revanchist Russian threat. Wills concludes his analysis with an assessment of the return of naval strategy documents in 2007 and 2015 and speculates on the potential for success of current Navy strategies including the latest tri-service maritime strategy. His research makes extensive use of primary sources, oral histories, and navy documents to tell the story of how the U.S. Navy created both successful strategies and how a dedicated group of naval officers were intimately involved in their creation. It also explains how the Navy’s ability to create strategy, and even the process for training strategy writers, was seriously damaged in the post-Cold War era.
Publisher : Naval Institute Press (August 15, 2021)
Language : English
Hardcover : 304 pages
ISBN-10 : 1682476332
ISBN-13 : 978-1682476338
Item Weight : 1.35 pounds
Dimensions : 6 x 1 x 9 inches
Product Review: Strategy Shelved by Steven T. Wills
In an era marked by shifting geopolitical landscapes and emerging great power competition, Steven T. Wills’ Strategy Shelved serves not just as a retrospective odyssey through naval strategy during the Cold War, but also as an essential lens through which we can understand and navigate the contemporary strategic debates facing the U.S. Navy today. Published by Naval Institute Press in August 2021, this book stands as a crucial contribution to military scholarship and strategic thought.
Unpacking the Content
Across the 304 pages, Wills meticulously examines the rise and fall of the U.S. Navy’s naval strategy system from the end of World War II up until 1994, a period that pivoted sharply due to the Vietnam War and subsequent military engagements. The author’s focused analysis on the pivotal decades of the 1970s and 1980s reveals the profound lessons learned amidst previous failures and successes, especially in rebuilding strategic thought during an era marked by uncertainty and disillusionment.
The book dives into critical legislation and events such as the Goldwater Nichols Act of 1986 and the First Gulf War, illustrating how these factors fundamentally reshaped the naval strategy. For instance, the Act’s shift towards joint control subverted established naval doctrines, highlighting a crucial concern for today’s strategic planners. Wills’ exploration of the Navy’s responses to a revolution in military affairs further enriches the dialogue on whether past strategies can inform future military developments, especially as threats from China and Russia loom larger.
Benefits of Buying
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Historical Insight: For military professionals, historians, and students alike, the book provides a detailed analysis of U.S. naval strategy during the Cold War, contributing invaluable context to current strategic dilemmas.
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Timely Relevance: As the U.S. military shifts focus once again, Wills’ conclusions shed light on the importance of maintaining a coherent and effective naval strategy, reinforcing the notion that history often holds critical lessons for the present.
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Extensive Research: Wills’ reliance on primary sources, oral histories, and navy documents enhances the book’s authenticity, making it an indispensable reference for anyone interested in naval history and strategy.
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Strategic Framework: The book not only identifies what went wrong but suggests pathways to reclaim a robust naval strategy, offering insights that can assist policymakers and military leaders in crafting effective responses to modern challenges.
- Engaging Narrative: Combining rigorous academic analysis with a narrative style that pulls readers in, Strategy Shelved is accessible to both academics and general readers interested in military affairs.
Final Thoughts
Strategy Shelved is more than just a historical recounting; it is a clarion call for a reevaluation of naval strategy in light of emerging global threats. Steven T. Wills has succeeded in illuminating the complexities and challenges that have defined U.S. naval operations from the Cold War to our current era. For anyone invested in understanding the mechanics of military strategy, this book is a compelling, thought-provoking read that elucidates the importance of learning from the past.
In conclusion, purchasing Strategy Shelved not only enriches your personal library but provides you with essential insights that are becoming increasingly relevant in our tense geopolitical moment. Whether you are a military strategist, an academic, or a dedicated history enthusiast, this book deserves a place on your shelf.
