Ideology, national policy, technology and strategic doctrine between the world wars

Abstract

Going beyond the still prevalent image of the interwar period as the scene of a struggle between progress and reaction in strategic doctrine, this article analyzes the factors that shaped the formulation of strategy and doctrine in each of the great powers. It shows how underlying technological trends and sweeping visions of warfare on land, in the air, and at sea had to be squared with practical questions and intricate problems of application and detail, as well as with differing national aims, priorities, and constraints.