The Development of British Defence Policy

Britain's military forces have rarely been busier. Therefore, it is vitally important - both in terms of the development of British foreign and security policy and also in relation to the wider impact on international security, more generally - to understand the developing trends and underlying assumptions of British Defence Policy. This volume places policy developments in a post-11 September context and assesses the impact of such events on key aspects of the defence policy spectrum, notably the perennial concern of military overstretch. By critically appraising contemporary developments and examining what is the driving policy in specific cases, this volume provides a relevant and up-to-date assessment of this vital policy area. In addition, as well as being contemporary in its analysis, it also provides a more comprehensive assessment, embracing both policy objectives - such as the expeditionary strategy and the desire to be a bridge between the United States (US) and EU - and the instruments that underpin such an approach.