A revolution in military affairs : some comparative approaches to the contemporary debate
Date
2000
Authors
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Publisher
Department of History, University of the Free State
Abstract
The problem addressed in this paper is not fundamentally new or exclusive for
it contains a historic line. In spite of this historic line, no general consensus
Therefore the first part of the paper is directed towards clarifying the concept
pursuing its historic roots and contemporary meaning. The historic analysis of
a revolution in military affairs (RMA) might reflect much of an ex post facto and
descriptive approach. This however, is perhaps inevitably the departure or entry
point from which even the contemporary debate on the issue is to be pursued.
Within the present debate two broad lines of thought become apparent. One,
the process is evolutionary and two, the view that developments contain
that reflect a more revolutionary than evolutionary nature. However, current thinking on a possible military revolution has an undeniable focus on its future impact upon warlighting, military organization and civil society. Predicting the future is by nature a risky undertaking. The second part of this paper is directed at this matter and in particular the countries seemingly involved in or on
the verge of becoming involved in this debate and their endeavours to reconcile the inherent difficulties of a contemporary military revolution.
Description
CITATION: Vreÿ, F. 2000. A revolution in military affairs: some comparative approaches to the contemporary debate. Southern Journal for Contemporary History, 25(1), 56–71. https://doi.org/10.38140/sjch.v25i1.4094.
The original publication is available at https://journals.ufs.ac.za
The original publication is available at https://journals.ufs.ac.za
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Citation
Journal for Contemporary History