The Political Influence of Naval Force in History

Why governments want navies, how they use naval force for political purposes, and what changes this has brought to the world are questions which still matter at the uncertain end of the 20th century. Here James Cable picks the political fruit of five centuries of naval history. He cites examples in which the objective was clear and success or failure apparent, providing a complete survey of the political purposes for which governments have in the past made use of naval force.