Recognizing and Understanding Revolutionary Change in Warfare: the Sovereignty of Context

Revolution in Military Affairs (Rma) was the most widely used, and abused, acronym in the U. S. defense community in the 1990s. Subsequently, transformation has superceded it as the preferred term of art. For the better part of 2 decades, American defense professionals have been excited by the prospect of effecting a revolutionary change in the conduct and character of warfare. In this monograph, Dr. Colin S. Gray provides a critical audit of the great Rma debate and of some actual Rma behavior. He argues that the contexts of warfare are crucially important. Indeed so vital are the contexts that only a military transformation that allows for flexibility and adaptability will meet future strategic demands. Dr. Gray warns against a transformation that is highly potent only in a narrow range of strategic cases. In addition, he advises that the historical record demonstrates clearly that every revolutionary change in warfare eventually is more or less neutralized by antidotes of one kind. . .