The Diffusion of Military Power: Causes and Consequences for International Politics

Very lucid and compelling articulation of a state-level theory of how and why military innovations are adopted, and by whom.

This book is an interesting take on how items or processes that start in the military actually impact our world. Technologies or the process of obtaining the capability to maneuver 10 ships in a carrier group while simultaneously launching aircraft while undergoing underway replenishment, is a tremendous feat. The cogs in the process then lead to the evolution of its use , albeit at a different level, in the civilian world. Television, GPS and other items can take years before they find their way into civilian use but when they do it impacts our world.

Great research

The IR community seems to be catching up to where military historians were 40 years ago -- arguing that military institutions and doctrine are key variables to military performance. There is nothing new in this book (for historians anyhow) and it is marred by silly errors such as references to a British "Royal Army" (only the Brit Navy and Air Force are "Royal") and referring to members of a warship's company as "soldiers."Nothing really wrong in this book -- but not a lightening flash either.