Kristina Soukupova, BA, MA, PhD KAP/MB November, Plzen Winter 2012 Session

Revolution in Military Affairs

Content

Introduction
Historical Roots of RMA Theory RMA Theory Problems with RMA Conclusion

Introduction

Revolution

A fundamental and rapid change in the ways we do, see, organise and understand things Everything that involves military personnel. Mainly preparation, planning, sourcing and the conduct of WAR.

Military Affairs

Introduction

DEEPLY CONTESTED CONCEPT

Military Revolution Military Technical Revolution Revolution in Military Affairs

Historical Roots of RMA

Military Revolution
Coined by Michael

Roberts in 1955

Focus on Imperial and Swedish Armies (1560-1660) Believed that their successes lie in: Organizational changes (more junior officers) Tactical changes (linear tactics, not tercio) Doctrinal changes (superior drill, professionalization = TAXES) Technological advancements (3 lb canon)

These changes had political and administrative consequences, which led to creation of a modern state

Historical Roots of RMA

Military Revolution
Geoffrey Parker
Agreed with Roberts in principle, but moved technology determined Military Revolution to 1450-1800:

Gun powder (Artillery revolution) Trace Italliene (Star fort)

Historical Roots of RMA

Military Revolution
Trace Italienne

Historical Roots of RMA

Military RevolutionS
Punctuated Equilibrium Evolution
Clifford Rogers (1993)

1) Infantry Revolution 14th century (weapons and tactics to defeat cavalry) 2) Artillery Revolution 15th cent. (Gun Powder & successful siege warfare)

3) Fortification Revolution 16th cent. (Tres Italienne)

4) Fire Weapon Revolution 1580-1630 5) + Military Revolution: Increase of European Armies 1650 1715

(Uniforms, rank, organization)

6) French Revolution 7) Industrial War 8) Nuclear Revolution

Historical Roots of RMA

Military RevolutionS
Infantry Revolution
Defeat of cavalry attacks by: archers, obstacles (holes), pikes, disciplined formations.

Historical Roots of RMA

Military RevolutionS
Punctuated Equilibrium Evolution 1300-1800

stable environment evolution

Not 1 revolution, but several!

rapidly changing enviroment time

Historical Roots of RMA

Historical Roots of RMA

Military Technical Revolution

Developed by the Soviets 1960s
Based on Marxist-Leninist Red Army Doctrine Originally studied impact of WWI on interwar military techniques 1970s Focus on balance of military power shift

space surveillance and long range missiles

Historical Roots of RMA

Military Technical Revolution

1980s
-Marshal Nicolai Ogarkov, Chief of the Soviet General Staff -Revolutionary synthesis of new technologies = new way of waging war -lack of resources to realize it -Soviet research neglected by the West

RMA
Revolution In Military Affairs
Andrew W. Marshall, Head of the US Department of Defence Office of Net Assessment and Strategic Planning
Picked up MTR and rebranded as RMA 1990s = the Golden Age of RMA debate

RMA is the basis for current US military transformation

RMA
Key event Gulf War I.
1991
Last war of the Industrial Age OR the first was of Information Age WHY?

Swift victory of the US due to the use of: new technologies

stealth precision weapons advanced sensors, C4I (Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence) real time space systems

RMA

RMA
Original Definition of RMA
the application of new technologies
a significant number of military systems

combines with innovative operational concepts and organizational adaptation

fundamentally alters the character and conduct of conflict produces a dramatic increase in military General assumption we have entered INFORMATION AGE effectiveness

RMA

RMA
The definition subject to changes as conflicts of the 1990s unfolded New type of conflict where technology supremacy did NOT guarantee victory Now we have 4 main streams of RMA theory: 1. Social Wave 2. Radical Transformation 3. Revolution in Revolution 4. Continuity and Evolution

RMA
Social Wave
Broad social and cultural changes and how they efect the military How people create wealth corresponds to how they fight their wars 3 types of civilization: Agrarian

Indrustial
Information (now) Control of information is both the means and the reason for war.

RMA
Radical Transformation
New technologies determine the way we fight wars

Revolution in Revolution
William Murray

Military Revolutions are made up of smaller RMAs and/or MTRs MR broader social and cultural change, beyond control RMA result of strategists innovation, intentional MTR driven by technological advances

RMA
Continuity and Evolution
Innovation and transformation is continuous process intended to deal with chaotic nature of war

Accept there is a change, but disagree that the change is radical

Problems with RMA

RMA is determined by our understanding of WAR (what causes war?, what is involved? Etc)
Definition of REVOLUTION What IS radical change? How radical it needs to be? How fast does it need to be? What matters for RMA more: people or technology?
Revolution

for the better must be proven by victory, but war is too complex

MR/RMA involves radical change in the history of warfare, but lack consensus on how and when these changes take place and what causes them.

Discussion
Why is RMA important?
It helps us understand strategic history Spurs research into innovation Helps us shape future policy and understand how change comes about Helps us understand military affairs in context

Conclusion
1) RMA is relatively new and evolving theory
2) There is no agreement what it is, but we know

that RMA involves change, technology and

military and affects/is affected by societies 3) RMA is basis for current military transformations around the world.

Do we fight our wars in a revolutionary way now?

Revolution or Evolution?

Thank you
Contact details:

Kristina.soukupova@i3cas.com