New Books Network Phillips Payson O'Brien, "War and Power: Who Wins Wars--And Why" (PublicAffairs, 2025)
Nov 11, 2025
Phillips Payson O'Brien, a military historian and Professor at the University of St. Andrews, challenges traditional notions of military power in his latest work. He argues that true military victories hinge on diverse factors, such as economic strength and political stability, rather than just large armies. O'Brien emphasizes the crucial roles of logistics and leadership, while debunking the myth that population size alone determines outcomes. He also draws insights from current conflicts, cautioning about the unpredictability of war and the need for strategic industrial reassessment.
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Great Power Is A Hollow Label
- The label "great power" is essentially meaningless without clear criteria.
- Phillips Payson O'Brien argues the term confers unwarranted authority and obscures real power dynamics.
Power Needs Multiple Strong Strands
- Full-spectrum power assesses multiple dimensions like economy, technology, leadership, and alliances.
- O'Brien says strengths must be spread across the spectrum to produce durable state power.
Economy And Tech Are Prerequisites
- Economic and technological capacity is a prerequisite for sustained international power.
- O'Brien stresses states lacking that base cannot be true global powers regardless of other attributes.
