The Bazaar of War

The Patterns of Operational Dynamics: A Brief Typology

One of my favorite themes with The Bazaar of War is how certain operational dynamics recur across vastly different times and places: comparing the…

Dec 21

40

1

3

Economics vs. Decision: The Two Logics of Warfare

There is plenty of overlap between economics and warfare.

Dec 11

44

7

7

The Birth of Byzantine Operational Art: The Arab-Byzantine Frontier, Part 2

The last piece on Arab-Byzantine warfare looked at strategy along the Anatolian frontier in the first century of the Islamic conquests. But as Byzantium…

Dec 3

14

3

November 2025

Cyber Monday for Books

December is your last chance to get Saladin the Strategist and The Art of War in Italy, 1494-1529 at current prices.

Nov 30

13

4

Entrenched Tactics and Comparative Advantage: An Economic View of Warfare

David Ricardo’s principle of comparative advantage is one of those ideas from economics that crosses over to many other domains.

Nov 16

40

3

4

Domesticated Breeds: The Difficulties of Jointness

Nothing embodies the glamour of warfare—and the exasperation of generals—better than the cavalryman of old. Many a well-timed cavalry charge, carried…

Nov 10

35

4

Strategy in an Endless War: The Arab-Byzantine Frontier, Part 1

For over 300 years, the Arabs and Byzantines fought an endless series of frontier wars. These partly resembled other interstate conflicts, with sieges…

Nov 4

52

8

October 2025

Small Wars and Protracted Competition

The concept of a small war is an interesting one.

Oct 27

26

3

Units Built for Purpose: Structure vs. Adaptability

A recent piece from the Modern War Institute looks at the problem of creating and sustaining breakthroughs on the modern battlefield.

Oct 9

44

13

8

September 2025

Contested Crossings: Fighting Across Rivers in the Gunpowder Age

River crossings in the face of an enemy has always been one of the most difficult tasks. But the gunpowder age opened up new tactical possibilities.

Sep 30

23

2

Theaters of Operation and the Potential for War

The expressions “theater of operations” and “theater of war” have often been used interchangeably.

Sep 13

49

1

4

August 2025

Pulsing From the Depths: The Problem of the Rear Area in Offensive Operations

It is a basic principle of combined arms that, by concentrating a variety of different fires, one can simultaneously increase the odds of success while…

Aug 28

37

3

4