What we're reading: May 2025
This month at the Defence Research Network, we've been reading two thought-provoking books on global conflict and power.
Asymmetric Warfare by Jacob Hagstrom explores how weaker forces have challenged dominant powers through unconventional means from 1492 to the present, highlighting the evolving nature of guerrilla warfare and resistance. Meanwhile, The Routledge History of the Modern Maritime World, edited by Kenneth Morgan, traces five centuries of maritime history, from trade and ports to environmental change and seafaring communities. Both offer fresh perspectives on long-term patterns in warfare and global history.
Asymmetric Warfare: Politics and Cultures of Violence in the Modern Era
by Jacob Hagstrom
This new book examines the evolution of asymmetric warfare, tracing how weaker forces have challenged stronger military powers through political, social, and unconventional means from 1492 to the present. It explores how mismatches in resources, technology, and intelligence shaped conflicts across different eras, while highlighting the continuity behind changing labels like guerrilla warfare and terrorism. Recent chapters reveal how weaker actors have increasingly offset traditional advantages held by dominant states.
The Routledge History of the Modern Maritime World since 1500
by Kenneth Morgan
This new edited book examines the modern maritime world since 1500 through a global and multidisciplinary lens, highlighting key developments in shipping, ports, trade, maritime environments, coastal zones, and seafaring communities. Drawing on original research and diverse historiographical approaches, it explores how maritime history intersects with broader historical themes such as globalisation, labour, environment, and empire. Together, the chapters trace major transformations in human interaction with the sea over five centuries.
