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120 Book reviews In Business and Battle: strategic leadership in the civilian and military spheres Charles Style, Nicholas Beale and David Ellery (eds.) Gower Publishing: Farnham UK, 2012 ISBN: 978-1-4094-3377-4 Reviewed by Brigadier Chris Field, Australian Army The UK’s Royal College of Defence Studies (RCDS) is a sister institution of Australia’s Centre for Defence and Strategic Studies (CDSS). Its mission is: … to prepare senior officers and officials of the United Kingdom and other countries, and future leaders from the private and public sectors, for high responsibilities in their respective organisations, by developing their analytical powers, knowledge of Defence and international security, and strategic vision. 1 This book concentrates on the final aspect of the RCDS’ mission, ‘developing … strategic vision’. Vice-Admiral Charles Style, RN (Retd), Nicholas Beale and David Ellery edit eight chapters authored largely by RCDS students who completed the RCDS ‘Strategic Issues Programme’ in 2009. Their collective views are effectively augmented by ideas written by a range of strategic leaders from business and government, who include Dr Lutz Bertling, President and Chief Executive Officer of the European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company, and Lord Christopher Patten, the last British Governor of Hong Kong. The aim of In Business and Battle is to ‘illuminate critical aspects of contemporary top strategic leadership, and provide commentary on them’. Frustratingly, the book frequently uses but does not define the term ‘top strategic leadership’. However, it defines ‘strategic leadership’ as characteristics demonstrated by people who have a clear sense of the timeline relevant to strategic decision making, an ability to effectively match resources and capacity to strategic intent, an attitude of ‘what can I do?’ as the starting point, and an ability to spot top talent and nurture it. The book’s eight chapters span issues which include the current strategic environment; perspectives on leadership and strategy; commercial leadership; uniqueness of strategic leadership; characteristics of strategic leaders; strategic leadership in a multinational and multilateral context; decision making in the strategic environment; and spotting and nurturing strategic leaders. An interesting series of ideas are introduced by the authors regarding multinational, multicultural and multi-sectoral challenges facing strategic leaders. While ideas on multinational and multicultural challenges are relatively well known, thinking on multi-sectoral challenges is rare. The US Agency for International Development defines a multi-sectoral approach as ‘responses to [a challenge/problem] by different functional or sectoral ministries or agencies …. [which] can be intra-sectoral or inter-sectoral’. 2
For the ADF, the Defence White Paper 2009 describes various ‘sectors’, including civilian aviation, security, private, public, civilian, industry, and defence industry, but does not describe a defence-led ‘multi-sectoral approach’. 3 In Business and Battle provides useful ideas on multisectoral approaches to defence, and the 2013 Defence White Paper provides an opportunity to introduce this powerful concept into Australian security thinking. In facing complex security challenges, a future ADF must be adept at synchronising the efforts of various sectors supporting Australia’s security into a collective and creative multi-sectoral approach. In Business and Battle is an earnest and enduring book that synthesises the inputs and thoughts of the RCDS class of 2009. It is a useful compendium for defence professionals seeking insights into the nexus between strategic leadership in business and in the military. In short, excellent strategic leadership is rare in both activities. The book gives useful examples of how strategic leaders in business and war, including Nelson Mandela, General Sir David Richards and General David Petraeus, have made good and bad decisions for their organisations. Perhaps Australia’s CDSS could approach a similar project on strategic leadership, either independently, or in collaboration with RCDS. The result may continue to enhance strategic thinking for future leaders in Australia and beyond. NOTES 1. Defence Academy of the UK, The Royal College of Defence Studies: see accessed 8 January 2013. 2. Ishrat Z. Husain and Renuka Bery, Implementing Multi-sectoral Approaches: a preliminary review of USAID’s experience (draft), US Agency for International Development (Bureau for Africa, Office of Sustainable Development): Washington DC, March 2002, p. 2: see accessed 12 January 2013. 3. Commonwealth of Australia, Defending Australia in the Asia Pacific Century: Force 2030, Department of Defence: Canberra, 2009, pp. 24, 57, 83, 112, 128, 130 and 134. Imperial Crossroads: the Great Powers and the Persian Gulf Jeffrey R. Macris and Saul Kelly (eds.) Naval Institute Press: Annapolis, Maryland, 2012 ISBN: 978-1-5911-4489-2 Reviewed by Commander Robert Woodham, RAN This book is a collection of 11 essays, each of which deals with an aspect of how and why a string of foreign powers have come to the Persian Gulf, what they sought to achieve and the degree to which they were successful. The author of each chapter brings their own perspective and expertise. This enables the book to illuminate its subject from various angles, including trade and economics, military power, grand strategy and national prestige, cultural and religious considerations, and domestic politics. Although concise (184 pages in the hardback version), this structure enables the book to provide a densely-packed treatment of the subject and offers numerous ‘jumping-off ’ points for further study, assisted by extensively referenced notes. 121
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Australia’s Maritime Strategy Vic
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CONTENTS Australian Defence Force I
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4 As usual, we have a selection of
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6 Figure 1: South-east Asia Soverei
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8 does this mean for a maritime str
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10 Vice Admiral Griggs joined the R
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12 As you have all undoubtedly obse
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14 the word ‘choice’. Does anyo
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16 to the school inspired by the Pr
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18 He was the Commanding Officer of
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20 Continental versus maritime stra
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22 MacArthur’s island-hopping cam
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24 As we look into the future, chan
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26 We proved the effectiveness of t
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28 Hornets from 75 Squadron. Our re
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30 Reframing the Defence Discourse:
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32 This perception is reinforced by
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34 However, the exact nature of a d
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36 Capability Joint Force-In- Being
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38 or problems in capability develo
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40 The budget debate: contextualisi
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42 will mean that Defence may only
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44 Counterinsurgency Lessons from t
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46 only in a selective sense. They
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48 Although there were miscalculati
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50 For these tribal societies, the
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52 10. Effendi, ‘Military Operati
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54 An overview of strategic air pow
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56 control, oil industry and electr
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58 basis, the effectiveness of atte
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60 31. T.M. Biddle, ‘Chapter 25 -
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62 The US Submarine Campaign in the
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64 The submarines were a mix of cla
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66 based on sound bearings. Similar
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68 Wolf packs. Early in hostilities
Page 72 and 73: 70 As Figure 4 shows, the submarine
Page 74 and 75: 72 NOTES 1. This article is an edit
Page 76 and 77: 74 33. Samuel Morrison, History of
Page 78 and 79: 76 Sea Control in Amphibious Operat
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Page 82 and 83: 80 The forces of a major Asia-Pacif
Page 84 and 85: 82 20. This is based on the Governm
Page 86 and 87: 84 Coal 22 % Natural Gas 18 % Nucle
Page 88 and 89: 86 Japan has also worked hard to di
Page 90 and 91: 88 The most significant impediment
Page 92 and 93: 90 Other environmental and economic
Page 94 and 95: 92 NOTES 1. This is an abridged ver
Page 96 and 97: 94 45. ‘Last Japan nuclear reacto
Page 98 and 99: 96 This doctrine is an indicator of
Page 100 and 101: 98 addressing the challenges of the
Page 102 and 103: 100 contemporary strategic environm
Page 104 and 105: 102 11. D. Showater, ‘Prussian-Ge
Page 106 and 107: 104 Refocusing the Australia-PNG Re
Page 108 and 109: 106 and effort. Particularly within
Page 110 and 111: 108 as support to PNGDF operations,
Page 112 and 113: 110 NOTES 1. Comments by the newly-
Page 114 and 115: 112 Operating in a Degraded Informa
Page 116 and 117: 114 This increased reliance has exc
Page 118 and 119: 116 At the tactical level, there ar
Page 120 and 121: 118 2015. One year later, he advanc
Page 124 and 125: 122 Starting with the Portuguese at
Page 126 and 127: 124 Dogfight: the Battle of Britain
Page 128 and 129: 126 Masters’ heartening conclusio
Page 130 and 131: 128 The impending centenary of the
Page 132 and 133: 130 highest level, and early German
Page 134 and 135: 132 Overall, the reader is left wit
Page 136 and 137: 134 It is a very personal history,
Page 138: GUIDANCE FOR AUTHORS The Australian
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