Revolution in Military Affairs

In this episode of the Revolution Military Affairs Podcast, we sit down with Peter Singer, renowned author of Ghost Fleet and LikeWar, and a thought leader in exploring the future of war and security. Peter discusses "useful fiction," a powerful method blending rigorous nonfiction analysis with storytelling to communicate complex insights about future conflict and competition. By creating engaging narratives, useful fiction transforms dense concepts like military strategy and emerging technologies into relatable and actionable ideas.Peter shares how this approach has been used in projects for clients such as NATO and U.S. Special Operations Command. From scenarios addressing contested logistics to narrative-driven accompaniments for doctrine like FM 3-0, useful fiction helps leaders visualize and internalize strategic principles. Singer emphasizes the importance of grounding these stories in reality—technology must be feasible and set within the next generation, adhering to the "no vaporware rule."The conversation touches on institutional reluctance to embrace change, the need to adapt in an era of multi-domain operations, and the lessons history teaches about innovation and resistance. With humor and depth, Peter explains how stories help us not just imagine the future, but prepare for it. A must-listen for military thinkers and strategists!Visit Useful Fiction at the following link: https://useful-fiction.com/about-us/

In this episode of the Revolution of Military Affairs Podcast, host Amos Fox welcomes Mike Kofman, Senior Fellow in the Russia Eurasia Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, to discuss the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war and its strategic implications. Kofman, a leading expert on Russian and Eurasian military dynamics, provides critical insights into the trajectory of the conflict and the evolving tactics and technologies on both sides.Kofman discusses the challenges Ukraine faces, including the struggle to stabilize the front lines, particularly in the Donetsk region, and the broader implications of manpower and mobilization failures. He highlights Russia’s tactical adjustments, such as its reliance on dispersed infantry and small-scale assaults, rather than large-scale operations, which are constrained by resource and leadership deficiencies. Both sides are innovating in drone warfare and electronic warfare (EW), creating a high-tech “cat-and-mouse” dynamic on the battlefield.The conversation also delves into broader strategic takeaways, emphasizing the importance of force structure, mobilization, and reconstitution in sustained conflict. Kofman critiques common misconceptions about “revolutionary” military advancements, stressing that meaningful change requires adapting force structure and operational concepts. This episode offers a deep dive into the complexities of modern warfare and the lessons militaries must learn for the future.

Ben Connable, "Russians Do Break: Historical and Cultural Context for a Prospective Ukrainian Victory," War on the Rocks. Link.

Check out Bill Murray's podcast, Lessons Lost in Time. You can find it here.

Check out the Harding Project's substack here: https://www.hardingproject.com/

Michael Burgoyne and Albert Marckwardt, "Five Truths of Foreign Area Officers," Joint Forces Quarterly 114 (2024): 108-111. Link.

Azar Gat, The Clausewitz Myth: Or the Emperor's New Clothes. Link.

Western Way of War (podcast). Link.Western Way of War (book). Link.Royal United Services Institute (RUSI). Website.RUSI Journal. Website.