Researchers are inclined to discuss the concept of the revolution in military affairs as the completed phenomenon which results are referred to the second part of the 20th century or as the developed tendency with references to the constant evolution of technologies as the necessary factor to support the revolution in military affairs. Thus, the ‘revolution in military affairs’ is the term which is used to describe the changes in the military technologies, strategies, and command directed toward the further progress of the warfare. Definite technological innovations used by the governments to support the military development of the country contribute to the increase of the military power of some countries, including the USA. In spite of the fact many researchers state that the revolution in military affairs occurred, it is a rather controversial point because this concept is also used to determine the possible future progress in the sphere basing on the developing technologies such as space technology or nanotechnology.
The discussion of the revolution in military affairs was developed as the reaction to the good results of the certain countries’ military forces in war conflicts and as the statement of the effective usage of such inventions as telegraph or railway. Baylis and the group of researchers pay attention to the fact that “it is possible that a revolution in military affairs has occurred, but it will require evidence gathered in a much larger conflict to become manifest” (Baylis et al., 2006, p. 149). The development of technologies is constantly intensified, and the range of inventions increases every year. That is why, it is inappropriate to focus on the completion of the revolution. The more significant progress in relation to the military sphere can make researchers speak about the new wave of revolution. Thus, the revolution in military affairs can be discussed as the theory related to the past and to the future.
Those persons who concentrate on the results of the past in discussing the question of the revolution in military affairs and those people who discuss the concept as the theory related to the current situation and the future can support the idea that “when a set of changes comes together, the result … is a revolution. Normally, military technology merely evolves… Occasionally, however, several developments will come together and yield a broader transformation” (Baylis et al., 2006, p. 148). Nevertheless, the revolution in military affairs is characterized by the focus on optimization, range, intelligence, and accuracy in commanding and guiding the military forces, and these characteristics were determined depending on the results of the 1991 Gulf War. Moreover, the main typical features of the revolution are “the rise of quality over quantity, the speciation of military hardware, and the centrality of commercial military technology” (Baylis et al., 2006, p. 149). The accents are made on the sophisticated weapons and progressive methods of command and control.
Thus, the concept of the revolution in military affairs is used to accentuate the changes in the military sphere which are closely connected with the technological evolution, basing on the specific military research and development. Furthermore, it is impossible to state that this process ended because of the orientation to using more innovative technologies to contribute to the increase of the military power of the countries which intend to struggle for the dominance in the military sphere.
Reference
Baylis, J., Wirtz, J., Gray, C., & Cohen, E. (2006). Strategy in the contemporary world: An introduction to strategic studies. USA: Oxford University Press.