Russia’s large-scale invasion of Ukraine has sparked a major shift in thinking about the future of war. The volume ‘Beyond Ukraine: Debating the Future of War’, edited by Tim Sweijs and Jeffrey H. Michaels, offers a comprehensive examination of its impact on visions of conflict and is now available in paperback.
War in the 21st century remains a chameleon, constantly changing its form. This volume provides one of the first major reassessments of the future of war following Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine. It argues that while the war has fundamentally reshaped perspectives on conflict, it is equally important not to overlook other parallel developments in warfare.
Bringing together leading voices in War Studies, the book explores how the war in Ukraine informs broader debates on strategy, technology, and the human dimensions of conflict. Contributions from scholars such as Azar Gat, Beatrice Heuser, Antulio Echevarria, Audrey Cronin, T.X. Hammes, Kenneth Payne, Frank Hoffman, David Betz, Jan Willem Honig, Sir. Lawrence Freedman and many other pre-eminent thinkers on the past, present and future of war – including an afterword by the late Christopher Coker – examine the evolving character of war and the challenges of anticipating its future.
Originally published by Hurst Publishers in April 2024, the book has been widely recognised as a major contribution to the field. Joint Force Quarterly described it as “a welcome antidote to myopia,” while H. R. McMaster called it “the best edited volume on war and warfare to appear in this century.”
Now available in paperback, Beyond Ukraine is essential reading for policymakers, military professionals, scholars, and anyone seeking to understand how war is changing.
Beyond Ukraine is available from Hurst Publishers, Amazon, Bol.com, and other bookstores.
About the authors:
- Tim Sweijs PhD is the Director of Research at The Hague Centre for Strategic Studies.
- Jeffrey H. Michaels PhD is the IEN Senior Fellow in American Foreign Policy and International Security at the Institut Barcelona d’Estudis Internacionals.
Reviews
‘The best edited volume on war and warfare to appear in this century.’ — Lt. Gen. (Retd) H. R. McMaster, former US National Security Advisor
‘One of the most detailed and forensic explorations of the war in Ukraine and its implications for the future of conflict. Drawing together a superb array of experts, this book links the strategic, technological and human experience of war in Ukraine with the wars that are an unwelcome but inevitable part of our collective future.’ — Maj. Gen. (Retd) Mick Ryan, Australian Army
‘Sweijs and Michaels have done a remarkable job pulling together a stellar collection of contributors who use the experience of the Russo-Ukraine war to illuminate all aspects of the future of warfare.’ — Sir Lawrence Freedman, Emeritus Professor of War Studies, King’s College London
‘Of all futures to anticipate, those of war are the trickiest. An existential endeavour in which technology and human values meet under high pressure requires ingenuity, creativity and intellectual honesty to outline and frame. This book, written by the best in the field, has all of the above.’ — Florence Gaub, Director of the Research Division, NATO Defense College
‘A timely, thoughtful analysis. Leading scholars delve into theoretical and empirical questions about great power war, technological innovation, people’s war and other pressing issues.’ — Jacqueline L. Hazelton, Executive Editor of International Security, Harvard Kennedy School
‘Given the infrequency of war as well as its changing character, soldiers and scholars must rely upon theory and history to guide them towards an uncertain future. These essays offer useful aids to navigating through the fog of peace.’ — Thomas G. Mahnken, Philip Merrill Center for Strategic Studies, Johns Hopkins University
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