Colin Gray's approach was that of a historian commenting on the past, the present, and the future, but not the kind of historian who devotes all his time to delving in dusty archives; instead, his ...was a work of constructive synthesis, putting together and developing a corpus of ideas about maritime strategy that was based on innumerable secondary works read voraciously. He did indeed demonstrate a "heroic mastery of the relevant literature." He was, above all, the kind of historian who was intent on finding recurring patterns in the behavior of states, rather than one solely concerned with exploring the unique and unrepeatable event. Her, Till discusses Gray's ideas about maritime strategy.
Strategists who are turning to maritime maneuver to achieve their ends amid intensifying great-power competition should be aware that the British historical experience shows that—owing to its costs, ...challenges, and limitations—the approach most often has failed to deliver on its strategic promise.
These days, strategists, in effect, are turning their thoughts to the concept of maritime maneuver associated with Sir Julian Corbett as a means of achieving their ends in an era of intensifying ...great-power competition, not least across the western Pacific. Proponents assure others that this strategic approach offers a wider range of diplomatic and operational options in peace as well as in war, while limiting cost and liability, especially for countries that are more maritime in their outlook. But there are costs, challenges, and limitations that need to be addressed realistically if practice is to equal theory--if, indeed, it can. A review of the British experience should help identify some of the issues that must be resolved if maritime maneuver is to fulfill its strategic promise. Historically, that promise has disappointed--in realized cost, achieved effect, or both--so often that too much should not be expected of it.
In a speech delivered by Dr. Geoffrey Till following the recognition he received from the Naval War College, he examined the problems that confronted the navies at the current age. The need for the ...navies to explore the naval history and the impact of the naval history on the development of naval professionalism are also tackled.
With particular focus on the Asia-Pacific region, this book examines the rise and fall of sea powers.
In the Asia-Pacific region there has been significant expansion of sea-based economies together ...with burgeoning naval power. Many claim that these processes will transform the world's future economic and security relationships. The book addresses the question of to what extent the notion of 'Asia rising' is reflected by and dependent on its developing sea power. A central theme is the Chinese challenge to long-term Western maritime ascendency and what might be the consequences of this.
In order to situate current and future developments this book includes chapters which analyse what sea power means and has meant, as well as its role, both historic and contemporary, in the rise and fall of great powers.
This book will be of much interest to students of naval power, Asian politics, strategic studies, war and conflict studies, IR and security studies.
A Cooperative Strategy for 21st Century Seapower: Forward, Engaged, Ready (CS21R) appeared in March 2015. It aims to "refresh" the strategy with the same primary title that first appeared back in ...2007 and that has to a significant extent guided US maritime policy over the past eight years. The main focus for discussion in this strategy is the functions rather than the missions. The missions presumably are thought to flow naturally out of the review, conducted in Sections I and II, of the international context and how, broadly, the US feels it needs to respond. There's plenty of evidence to be found in those sections for all of these missions, but they're not much specifically discussed, and neither, really, is how the functions will support them. Instead, the emphasis is on the five functions themselves. It's these that will therefore command attention. The final section of CS21R shows how the necessary capabilities will be grown.
