The book undertakes a revision of the paradigm of military theoretical thought that has prevailed since the time of Clausewitz. Martin van Creveld offers a new vision of war as a culturally determined human activity. The current situation is associated with fundamental shifts in the sociocultural characteristics of armed conflicts. These changes primarily explain the inability of traditional armies to successfully fight irregular forces in local conflicts. Failure to adapt to these changes can cost modern states dearly and threaten them with complete disintegration. The book, published in 1991, has had a great influence on modern world military thought and is still the subject of active debate. The Russian publication is intended for professional military personnel, experts in the field of national security, politicians, diplomats and government officials, political scientists and sociologists, as well as for everyone interested in the problems of war, peace, security and international politics.