Cathal J. Nolan

We tend to measure war's winners and losers in terms of major engagements. Gettysburg, Trafalgar, Midway, Waterloo, Agincourt, Dien Bien Phu - all resonate in the literature of war and in our imaginations as either tide-turning or decisive. But what actually signifies a "decisive" battle? The Allure of Battle by Cathal J. Nolan systematically examines a series of great battles, each traditionally perceived as the "turning point" of the war in which they occurred and shows how and where these battles fit into the histories of those wars, and into military history as a whole. In eachcase, even large and important battles have only contributed to victory or defeat by accelerating the erosion of the other side's defences. In massive conflicts, a shared characteristic emerges: prolonged stalemate created from an uneven military balance, broken only over time and by a series ofsmaller engagements.Rather than claim to have discovered linear or universal laws about warfare, or some overarching "theory of war," this book places battles within the context of the wider conflict in which they took place. In the process it help corrects a distorted view of battle's place in war - replacing popularimages of the "decisive battle" with somber appreciation of the commitments and human sacrifices made in war. Accessible, provocative, and entertaining, The Allure of Battle will sparks fresh debate about the history, strategy, and conduct of warfare.

How Wars Are Won and Lost

The Allure of Battle

Humanity in War

Mercy

Using humanistic principles to strip away the jargon and narrowness inherent in much of modern-day political scholarship, this historical encyclopedia reclaims the breadth of vision, the privileging of factual evidence over theory, and the moral tenor prevalent in classical political inquiry. Over 6,000 alphabetically arranged entries accompanied by 29 maps make this single-authored set the definitive desktop reference work on international relations and international history. The book's primary focus is upon the rise of the Great Powers and the course of world civilizations, their formative wars and diplomatic, political and economic relations. But a serious effort is made to cover all of the smaller and less powerful regions and their local history, along with how progressive inclusion into the modern state system affected them, both for good and ill. Written with elegant clarity and leavened by healthy doses of professional skepticism and humor, this thoroughly cross-referenced work addresses general as well as specialized readers seeking clear and concise sketches of the topics, simple and complex, that have shaped political and historical developments in our world. The work takes firm stands on important issues. It is not morally neutral on the meaning of historical persons or events. But it is eminently fair: its standard of objectivity and judgment has been to write about all nations, religions, and events as a historian without country or religion, in the words of John Quincy Adams. While remaining deeply serious and cognizant of the role of the tragic in human history, this book often displays biting wit and overall personality--a great benefit of the single-author approach. Whether or not readers agree with a given interpretation, they are always paid the deep respect of having their intellect minds and moral consciousness engaged with the deeper meaning of the history of international public affairs.

The Greenwood Encyclopedia of International Relations: A-E

Annotation. "The rise of the Great Powers and the course of world civilizations, their formative wars and diplomatic, political and economic relations, are the primary focus. But tremendous steps are made to cover all of the smaller and less powerful regions, their local history, and how progressive inclusion into the modern state system affected them, both for good and for ill. This cross-referenced work addresses the educated lay reader, as well as specialists seeking clear, concise sketches of the topics that have shaped political and historical developments in our world."--BOOK JACKET. Title Summary field provided by Blackwell North America, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

The Greenwood Encyclopedia of International Relations: M-R

The Greenwood Encyclopedia of International Relations: S-Z

The Greenwood Encyclopedia of International Relations

Offers a variety of entries on the cultural, military, and political history, as well as geography, biography, and philosophy, of this period. This work also offers detailed information on the major events, places, battles, figures, technologies, and ideas behind six centuries of global conflicts.

An Encyclopedia of Global Warfare and Civilization

The Age of Wars of Religion, 1000-1650

Dominated by the ambitions of France's King Louis XIV, Europe in the years 1650-1715 witnessed a series of wars from which emerged many of the theories, practices, and technologies that characterize modern warfare. During this period, European armies evolved modern ideas of army organization and military leadership, as well as modern views of campaign strategy and battle tactics. As European soldiers and colonists moved into Asia, the Middle East, and the Americas, the practice or influence of their military techniques and ideas also affected wars fought in those places. In this volume's 1000 plus entries, an award-winning author of reference works on international relations and war describes and defines important events, technologies, and individuals from this seminal period of global military history.

Wars of the Age of Louis XIV, 1650-1715: An Encyclopedia of Global Warfare and Civilization

A comprehensive and integrated military, political, and strategic history of World War II, ranging from the daily life of conscripts and civilians to operational and strategic decision making at the highest levels. • Hundreds of concise entries on all facets of World War II, ranging well beyond the typical focus on the West and on battle-to-battle recaps • 100 photos and 20 maps offer important information about World War II

The Concise Encyclopedia of World War II [2 volumes]

This new analysis of governing ideas in U.S. foreign policy shows how they arise, are sustained and challenged both domestically and internationally, and become part of the world order. By focusing on U.S. policy toward the former Soviet Union and the United Nations through the years, Cathal Nolan sharply defines the central problem in policymaking---how to support principles of national security and democratic and human rights. This history with its outlook for the future is an important new interpretation of U.S. foreign policymaking.

Cathal J. Nolan

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