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War and power are some of the most-widely discussed issues in all of human history and yet they are, time and again, misunderstood— often disastrously so. Whilst we might think the outcome of war is determined by so-called ‘Great Powers’ who dominate their opponents with their impressive size and military prowess, the reality of modern conflict, as Professor Phillips Payson O’Brien demonstrates, is very different.

In War and Power, renowned strategic historian O’Brien shows us that we need to think less about weapons and battles, and more about the economies, politics and societies that produce them. From the power of individual leaders to the structural forces that shape society, and even the alliance under which states operate, we see that when we focus on solely on militaries and equipment, we miss what really matters in war.

In this bold new analysis of modern warfare, O’Brien challenges some of the most common misunderstandings around recent conflicts, from historic regimes like Mao’s China and Mussolini’s Italy, to contemporary examples including the US’s continued approach to the War on Terror. Importantly, we also see how these misconceptions can lead to disastrous consequences for those involved, most pertinently in the Russo-Ukrainian war.

War and Power offers a radical new insight into the phenomena that shape societies, politics and life itself.

© Phillips Payson O'Brien 2025 (P) Penguin Audio 2025