Customer Reviews

In Pursuit of Military Excellence: The Evolution of Operational Theory (Cummings Center Series)

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This book is an academic but readable work which analyses of the development of what is known as "operational art," or in other words, the intermediate field of theory, which connects strategy with tactics. This is a relatively new and unfamiliar cognitive field in the Western world, and has only been begun to be understood since the late 1970's. Naveh combines complex theory within a historical context, beginning with the doctrines of von Clausewitz, continuing through the debacles of World War One and to the first Revolution in Military Affairs which took place in the Soviet Red Army of the 1920's. The latter half of the book concludes with the development of operational thought in the US Army which began in 1976. This followed the realization in the US military that their tactical doctrines provided no answer to the threats east of the iron curtain. This process of thought culminated with the Gulf War, which saw the successful implementation of the theory, independently developed to that of the Red Army, but remarkably similair. This book is unique, not in that it analyses operational theory, but in that it outlines the pioneering processes that took place in the Soviet Union during the 1920's and 30's. This information has remained hidden and unknown to the West until only very recently, and has been revealed here by the author who has researched the field intensively.

This is an interesting, well-researched book in a field of study lacking accessible studies. However, the material in this book is not accessible without a high level of knowledge regarding the history and theories of operational level warfare (OLW). Even with a working knowledge of OLW, the reading was slow and difficult due to the prevalence of academic jargon and assumptions introduced without explanation of their origins. I found the historical aspects interesting and helpful, but again, there seemed to be an assumption that the backgrounds of many of the theorists and practioners of OLW were already known. I do not recommend this book for beginners.