The Revolution in Military Affairs: Series Intro

Peter Zeihan 6 min

The human race is about to experience a higher form of war. Countries must decide what they want and how big a technological jump they are willing to take.

Chapters

  1. 0:00

    The Industrial Revolution in Warfare

    Explains how industrial technologies like railroads and telegraphs created a decisive advantage over pre-industrial forces during the Crimean War and American Civil War.

  2. 2:20

    The Digital Revolution in Warfare

    Describes the 1980s digitization revolution where computers, GPS, and satellites allowed forces to destroy opponents who were generations behind technologically.

  3. 2:43

    The Emerging Third Revolution

    Argues that combining breakthroughs in digitization, energy transfer, and materials science is creating a new form of warfare where drones are just the beginning.

Key points

  • 0:00

    Industrial technologies like rifling muskets and railroads wiped out pre-industrial forces.

  • 1:47

    Rail tracks and field hospitals alone destroyed Russian capabilities in the Crimean War.

  • 2:43

    Digitization allowed JDAMs to hit targets within 10 meters against the Iraqi army.

  • 2:43

    No competitor existed for the United States at the end of the Cold War.

  • 2:43

    New breakthroughs in digitization, energy transfer, and materials science combine to create new warfare.

  • 2:43

    First-person drones have already caused two-thirds of Russian fatalities in the Ukraine war.

  • 2:43

    Conventional infantry and armor will not survive unless they develop their own countermeasures.

  • 4:58

    Countries must decide what they want, how much to pay, and the size of the technological jump.

  • 4:58

    The United States has cash, an industrial complex, and time to observe rivals.

  • 4:58

    The Ukraine war provides instructive lessons on technological changes sticking for years.

  • 4:58

    The human race is about to experience a higher form of war with new weapons and everything else.

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