The Art of War and Peace

The Changing Face of 21st Century Warfare

Dr David Kilcullen, Dr Greg Mills

$55

Hardback

Forthcoming
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English

Bonnier Books Ltd
07 October 2025

General & world history; Warfare & defence; Defence strategy, planning & research

'A deeply thought-provoking book full of wisdom, insight and common sense, by two of our foremost strategists' James Holland, bestselling author of The War in the West

FOREWORD BY SIR NICK CARTER, FORMER UK CHIEF OF DEFENCE STAFF

How have the character and technology of war changed in recent times? Why does battlefield victory often fail to result in a sustainable peace? What is the best way to prevent, fight and resolve future conflict?

The world is becoming a more dangerous place. Since the fall of Kabul and Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the US-led liberal international order is giving way to a more chaotic and contested world system. Western credibility and deterrence are diminishing in the face of wars in Europe and the Middle East, tensions across the Taiwan Strait, and rising populism and terrorism around the world. Can peace, mutual respect and democracy survive, or are we destined to a permanent chaos in which authoritarians and populists thrive?

Using decades of experience as policy advisors in conflicts in Iraq and across Africa, and on recent fieldwork in Israel and Taiwan, the authors analyse the nature of modern war, considering state-on-state and intra-state conflicts. They investigate how technology can be a leveller for small powers against larger aggressors and the role of leadership, diplomacy and economic assistance.

Weighing up past lessons, present observations and predictions about the future, The Art of War and Peace explores how wars can be won on the battlefield and how that success can be translated into a stable and enduring peace.

By: Dr David Kilcullen, Dr Greg Mills
Imprint: Bonnier Books Ltd
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Dimensions: Height: 234mm, Width: 153mm,
ISBN: 9781785126857
ISBN 10: 1785126857
Pages: 336
Publication Date: 07 October 2025
Audience: General/trade , ELT Advanced
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Forthcoming

Dr. David Kilcullen is Professor of International and Political Studies at the University of New South Wales, Canberra, Professor of Practice at Arizona State University, and CEO of the geopolitical risk analysis firm Cordillera Applications Group. He is a leading theorist and practitioner of guerrilla and unconventional warfare, counterinsurgency and counterterrorism and the author of five prize-winning books. He was awarded the 2015 Walkley Award (Australia's equivalent of the Pulitzer Prize) for longform journalism for his war reporting on the rise of the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria. Dr Greg Mills heads the Johannesburg-based Brenthurst Foundation, established in 2005 by the Oppenheimer family to strengthen African economic performance. He holds degrees from the Universities of Cape Town (BA Hons) and Lancaster (MA cum laude, and PhD), and was, first, the Director of Studies and then the National Director of the SA Institute of International Affairs from 1994-2005. He is the author of the best-selling books Why Africa Is Poor and Africa's Third Liberation. His writings won him the Recht Malan Prize for Non-Fiction Work in South Africa.

Reviews for The Art of War and Peace: The Changing Face of 21st Century Warfare

'A deeply thought-provoking book full of wisdom, insight and common sense, by two of our foremost strategists' -- James Holland, bestselling author of THE WAR IN THE WEST 'The Art of War and Peace by David Kilcullen and Greg Mills, a team comprising an American-Australian and a South African, is a metaphor for the international cooperation necessary by which the efforts of good people can succeed over evil.' -- General (rtd) Sir Nick Carter, former Chief of the Defence Staff, UK 'It is a great honour for me to work with Greg Mills and David Kilcullen. I recommend this book to all those interested in peace in our complex world' -- Valerii Zaluzhnyi, ‘The Iron General’, Ukraine 'The more the nature of war changes, the more it stays the same. Qualities of leadership, fighting skill, training, motivation and equipment all still offer an edge. As this book vividly reminds, you have to get the politics right to translate victory in war into victory in peace' -- Ehud Barak, former prime minister of Israel 'As the world shifts onto a dangerous war footing, this book is a salutary and refreshing reminder of the ultimate goal for all - peace' -- Monica Juma, National Security Advisor, Kenya