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Book Review: Economic War: Ukraine and the Global Conflict Between Russia and the West
Joel R. Hillison
Author: Maximilian Hess
Reviewed by: Dr. Joel R. Hillison, director, National Security Policy and Strategy, Department of Distance Education, US Army War College
This book examines the economic war between Russia and the United States from 2012 to 2023 and assesses each country’s strengths and weaknesses. The conversation on economic warfare also expands to discuss other countries’ involvement, the effects of geoeconomics on the Russia-Ukraine War, and how an economic war would look between the United States and China. The reviewer sees this book as thoroughly researched and well written, despite the drawback of not including charts and maps.
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Book Review: How Drones Fight: How Small Drones Are Revolutionizing Warfare
Chase Metcalf
Author: Lars Celander
Reviewed by: Colonel Chase Metcalf, assistant professor, Department of Military Strategy, Planning, and Operations
Celander’s book discusses the new technologies at the forefront of military transformation and offers recommendations for countering them. He also argues that the introduction of drones into warfare has shifted the approach to air superiority. The reviewer critiques How Drones Fight’s lack of depth and narrow focus yet still sees it as an accessible introduction to drones and the future of warfare.
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Book Review: Winning Without Fighting: Irregular Warfare and Strategic Competition in the 21st Century
John A. Nagl
Authors: Rebecca Patterson, Susan Bryant, Ken Gleiman, and Mark Troutman
Reviewed by: John A. Nagl, General John J. Pershing Professor of Warfighting Studies, Department of Military Strategy, Planning, and Operations, US Army War College
Winning Without Fighting offers recommendations for the United States’ response to attacks on the rules-based international order. The four authors propose “nothing less than a new grand strategy for America.” The reviewer agrees with some of the authors’ recommendations, while he strongly disagrees with their suggestions on investments.
©2026 John A. Nagl
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Book Review: The Spy and the State: The History of American Intelligence
Thomas W. Spahr
Author: Jeffrey P. Rogg
Reviewed by: Dr. Thomas W. Spahr, Francis W. De Serio Chair of Strategic and Theater Intelligence, US Army War College
From the Revolutionary War to the digital age, The Spy and the State by Jeffrey P. Rogg traces the evolution of American intelligence as a central force in shaping national security and foreign policy. With rich historical detail and sharp analysis, Rogg reveals how espionage has empowered and challenged democratic governance. This compelling narrative offers a fresh lens on the hidden machinery behind America’s global influence.
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