21st Century Mahan

Alfred Thayer Mahans The Influence of Seapower upon History is well known to students of naval history and strategy, but his other writings are often dismissed as irrelevant to todays problems. This collection of five of Mahans essays, along with Benjamin Armstrongs informative introductions, illustrates why Mahans work remains relevant to the 21st century and how it can help develop our strategic thinking. People misunderstand Mahan, the editor argues, because they have read only what others say about him, not what Mahan wrote himself. Armstrongs analysis is derived directly from Mahans own writings. From the challenges of bureaucratic organization and the pit falls of staff duty, to the development of global strategy and fleet composition, to illustrations of effective combat leadership, Armstrong demonstrates that Mahans ideas continue to provide todays readers with a solid foundation to address the challenges of a rapidly globalizing world.