Surprise has always been an element of warfare, but the return of great power competition-and the high-level threat that it poses-gives urgency to thinking about surprise now. Because the future is highly uncertain, and great powers have not fought each other for over 70 years, surprise is highly likely in a future great power conflict. This study, therefore, examines potential surprises in a great power conflict, particularly in a conflict's initial stages when the interaction of adversaries' technologies, prewar plans, and military doctrines first becomes manifest. It is not an attempt to project the future. Rather, it seeks to do the opposite: explore the range of possible future conflicts to see where surprises might lurk.
- ISBN10 1442280719
- ISBN13 9781442280717
- Publish Date 29 May 2018 (first published 23 March 2018)
- Publish Status Active
- Publish Country US
- Imprint Centre for Strategic & International Studies,U.S.
- Format Paperback
- Pages 150
- Language English