The Nature of War: Conflicting Paradigms and Israeli Military Effectiveness

In The Nature of War, author Ron Tira examines the different aspects that characterize war, from the center of gravity to be attacked to the elements constituting military decision, as they are manifested in ‘simple’ symmetrical wars; asymmetrical wars versus a state opponent; guerilla warfare; parallel warfare; and next generation warfare. Beginning with a survey of the various types of war and the circumstances whereby the classical doctrine of war is progressively less valid, this book then devises additional analytical tools necessary to understand more complex conflicts. This study also examines the relevance of classical doctrine and applies these new tools and concepts to a range of historical examples, from the Second Punic War and World War II to some of Israel’s main wars. The final case evaluated is the next generation of wars that Israel and other Western countries may find themselves fighting—wars against states that have adopted the guerilla paradigm.