How Militaries Learn

Nathan Toronto is an associate professor at National Defense College, United Arab Emirates.

The ability to learn has long been regarded as key characteristic of history’s most powerful militaries. In this book, Toronto explains why not all militaries can achieve such excellence, arguing variations in political will and economic development explain both why some are learning organizations and others are not as well as why some can quickly acquire such capabilities. His argument – well-supported by a wide range of evidence – has important implications for scholars and policymakers alike, especially as the United States works to share military best practices with armed forces in developed and developing states around the world.

• 1.Adoption Theory: Examining the Intellectual Architecture of Military Success2.France and Prussia: Military Defeat and Reform3.Turkey and Egypt: The Economic Foundations of Home-grown Human Capital4.The United Arab Emirates: Importing Human Capital5.Conclusion: Making Military Success Last