I am grateful to Grant T. Hammond, Director of CSAT, for the opportunity to serve as a Visiting Fellow in 2000-2001 and to contribute this Occasional Paper. Given the technical focus of most of the Papers, I though it would be useful, by way of some contrast, to offer a wide ranging exploration of the relationship between technology and war. The paper draws upon several research efforts which have yet to see the light of day in published form. Most especially, the paper draws upon the theory and historical case studies developed in my forthcoming book, Strategy for Chaos: RMA Theory and the Evidence of History. Also, I have drawn upon my contribution ("Fuller's Folly: Technology, Strategic Effectiveness, and the Quest for Dominant Weapons") to an as yet unpublished collection of essays, A.J. Bacevich and B.R. Sullivan, eds., The Limits of Technology in Modern War. The central organizing idea behind this paper is that technology and war (or, indeed, peace) are linked by the consequence that we understand as strategic effectiveness. Technology in weapon systems, and in other military machines as well as in relevant a civilian systems, delivers its payoff in the effectiveness secured by the threat or use of force for the purposes of high policy. The playing field is strategic behavior and technology is just one, albeit a necessary one, among the players that collectively deliver the result.
This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you will see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work.
This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.
As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.