Mahan, Corbett, and the Foundations of Naval Strategic Thought

A rich examination of these two extremely influential strategic thinkers, McCranie’s well-structured narrative grapples with the essence of Mahan’s and Corbett’s theories. By placing them in context and contrasting them against each other, McCranie analyzes their thinking in detail and draws insightful conclusions. Definitely recommended!” —Trent Hone, author of Learning War: The Evolution of Fighting Doctrine in the U.S. Navy, 1898-1945 and co-author of Battle Line: The United States Navy, 1919-1939“This incisive analysis places the work of Mahan and Corbett, the founding fathers of naval and maritime strategic thought, in context. It highlights both the striking synergy of their ideas and arguments, and how the needs of the very different states in which they operated produced distinctly different texts.” —Andrew Lambert, laughton professor of Naval History, Kings College London, author of Seapower States“Kevin McCranie has produced a brilliant synthesis, a long overdue examination of the maritime theorists whose works have informed the strategic decisions of the maritime states that have dominated world affairs for two centuries. McCranie has done for naval theory what Michael Handel did for Clausewitz and Sun Tzu.” —K.J. Delamer, fleet seminar professor, Naval War College“In the 1990s it was fashionable for academics to muse about the ‘end of history’ as well as the ‘end of sea power.’ Nothing could have been further from the truth. Control of the world’s sea lanes remains as critical as ever to major states’ security. A century ago, two giants with differing perspectives dominated the field of maritime strategic thinking: Alfred Thayer Mahan and Julian Corbett. Their writings, McCranie wisely and critically reminds us today, transcend time. Well argued!” —Holger H. Herwig, professor emeritus and the author of “Luxury” Fleet, University of Calgary“In a period of unprecedented technological changes four analysts sought to understand their impact on geostrategy: Mahan, Corbett, Mackinder, and Haushofer. Mahan and Corbett spoke to narrower audiences in often convoluted fashion, and their contributions have been less well understood. McCranie does an excellent job of retrieving their naval geostrategies.” —Peter J. Hugill, professor emeritus and fellow, Scowcroft Institute, Bush School, Texas A&M University

Kevin D. McCranie is the Philip A. Crowl Professor of Comparative Strategy at the United States Naval War College in Newport, RI. He is the author of Admiral Lord Keith and the Naval War against Napoleon and Utmost Gallantry: The U.S. and Royal Navies at Sea in the War of 1812.