The Art of War and Peace
16 July 2026Imprint: Ithaka
Synopsis
'[An] excellent study' -- The Telegraph
'A deeply thought-provoking book full of wisdom, insight and common sense, by two of our foremost strategists' -- James Holland, bestselling author of The War in the West
'The Art of War and Peace by David Kilcullen and Greg Mills, a team comprising an American-Australian and a South African, is a metaphor for the international cooperation necessary by which the efforts of good people can succeed over evil.' - General (rtd) Sir Nick Carter, former Chief of the Defence Staff, UK
FOREWORD BY SIR NICK CARTER, FORMER UK CHIEF OF DEFENCE STAFF
The world is becoming a more dangerous place. Since the fall of Kabul and Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the US-led liberal international order is giving way to a more chaotic and contested world system. Western credibility and deterrence are diminishing in the face of wars in Europe and the Middle East, tensions across the Taiwan Strait, and rising populism and terrorism around the world. Can peace, mutual respect and democracy survive, or are we destined to a permanent chaos in which authoritarians and populists thrive?
Using decades of experience as policy advisors in conflicts in Iraq and across Africa, and on recent fieldwork in Israel and Taiwan, the authors analyse the nature of modern war, considering state-on-state and intra-state conflicts. They investigate how technology can be a leveller for small powers against larger aggressors and the role of leadership, diplomacy and economic assistance.
The Art of War and Peace explores how wars can be won on the battlefield and how that success can be translated into a stable and enduring peace.
'A deeply thought-provoking book full of wisdom, insight and common sense, by two of our foremost strategists' -- James Holland, bestselling author of The War in the West
'The Art of War and Peace by David Kilcullen and Greg Mills, a team comprising an American-Australian and a South African, is a metaphor for the international cooperation necessary by which the efforts of good people can succeed over evil.' - General (rtd) Sir Nick Carter, former Chief of the Defence Staff, UK
FOREWORD BY SIR NICK CARTER, FORMER UK CHIEF OF DEFENCE STAFF
The world is becoming a more dangerous place. Since the fall of Kabul and Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the US-led liberal international order is giving way to a more chaotic and contested world system. Western credibility and deterrence are diminishing in the face of wars in Europe and the Middle East, tensions across the Taiwan Strait, and rising populism and terrorism around the world. Can peace, mutual respect and democracy survive, or are we destined to a permanent chaos in which authoritarians and populists thrive?
Using decades of experience as policy advisors in conflicts in Iraq and across Africa, and on recent fieldwork in Israel and Taiwan, the authors analyse the nature of modern war, considering state-on-state and intra-state conflicts. They investigate how technology can be a leveller for small powers against larger aggressors and the role of leadership, diplomacy and economic assistance.
The Art of War and Peace explores how wars can be won on the battlefield and how that success can be translated into a stable and enduring peace.
Details
16 July 2026
9781785126895Imprint: Ithaka
