The Oxford Handbook on War is the definitive analysis of war in the twenty-first century. With over forty senior authors from academia, government and the armed forces world-wide the Handbook explores the history, theory, ethics and practice of war. It first considers the fundamental causes of war, before reflecting on the moral and legal aspects of war. Theories on the practice of war lead into an analysis of the strategic conduct of war and non Western ways of war. The heart of the Handbook is a compelling analysis of the military conduct of war which is juxtaposed with consideration of technology, economy, industry, and war. In conclusion the volume looks to the future of this apparently perennial feature of human interaction.

Part 1.The fundamental causes of war: -- Defining war / Lawrence Freedman -- Strategy and war / Hew Strachan -- How history shapes war / George-Henri Soutou -- The collision of modern and post-modern war / Christopher Coker -- Alliances and war / Yves Boyer -- Brazil, India, and china: emerging powers and warfare / Alfredo G.A. Valladão -- Part II. The moral and legal aspects of war: -- Morality and war / Paul Schulte -- The evolving legal aspects of war / Serge Sur -- Part III. Theories on the practice of war: -- The history of grand strategy and the conduct of micro-wars / Colonel Benoit Durieux -- The strategic object of war / Ambassador Alyson J.k. Bailes -- Nuclear deterrence and war / Olivier Debouzy -- Unconventional forms of war / Christian Malis -- Terrorism and war / Ambassador Robert E. Hunter -- Part IV. The strategic conduct of war: -- Strategic leadership and war / Julian Lindley-French -- Intelligence and war / Sir Paul Lever -- The Pol/Mil interface and war: the French at the beginning of the twenty-first century / General jean-Louis Georgelin -- Managing war / William Hopkinson -- Part V. Non-Western ways of war: -- The Russian way of war: In Crisis? / Isabelle facon -- The Twenty-First Century war: Chinese perspectives / Major-General Peng Guang Qian -- The Japanese way of war / Vice-Admiral Fumio Ota -- Part VI. The military conduct of war: -- Military coalitions in war / Lt. General Andrew Graham -- Military leadership in a changing world / General P.J.M. van Uhm and Dr B. Schoenmaker -- The art of command in the Twenty-First Century: reflections on three commands / General Sir David Richards -- Hybrid conflict and the changing nature of actors / Rob de Wijk -- Conducting joint operations / General Sir Richard Shirreff -- Counterinsurgency and war / Colonel Gian Pl Gentile -- The role of logistics in war / Matthew Uttley and Christopher Kinsey -- Land warfare / General Antoine Lecerf -- Maritime warfare and the importance of sea control / Admiral the Right Honourable Lord West or Spithead GCB DSC DUniv -- Air warfare / Air Commodore Frans Osinga -- Teaching war / Colonel Ton de Munnik -- Part VII. Technology, economy, industry, and war: -- The limits of technology in war / Colonel Michel Goya -- Space: a new theatre of war? / Xavier Pasco -- Affording war: The British case / Chris Donnelly, Commander Simon Reay-Atkinson, and Julian Lindley-French -- Industry and war / Heinz Schulte -- Procurement and war / Nick Witney -- The defence industry in the contemporary global security environment / Ambassador Robert G. Bell -- Part VIII. Civil-military cooperation and war: -- The changing relationship between society and armed forces / Paul Cornish -- Clear, hold and build: operationalizing the comprehensive approach / Julian Lindley-French, Paul Cornish, and Andrew Rathmell -- Building a multilateral civilian surge / Hans Binnendijk and Jacqueline Carpenter -- Part IX. War and Society: -- Demography and warfare / Professor Radha Kumar -- Communicating war: the gamekeeper's perspective / Jamie Shea -- Communicating war: the poacher's perspective / Caroline Wyatt -- Part X. Does war have a future?: -- Does war have a future? / Michael Clarke -- Conclusions: The unpredictability of war and its consequences / Julian Lindley-French and Yves Boyer.