In this book, Clarke demystifies British defence policy. He invites and encourages the reader to interrogate the role of defence as Britain responds to the challenges of navigating Brexit Britain through the increasingly dangerous waters of world politics. It has never been more important to understand defence policy. Brexit Britain sets the country on a new path, requiring fresh international partnerships and reinvigorating some old ones. Yet world politics is in a more dangerous state than at any time since the height of the Cold War. As the country confronts its future challenges, British defence policy will be key. Readjusting from a quarter-century of expeditionary operations, peace-support and nation-building, the military now faces the prospect of war-fighting in an age of robotics, cyber-technologies, international terrorism and political subversion. Clarke sets these challenges within the basic principles of defence policy: sufficient funding, enough of the right equipment, properly trained people, the technological glue to hold it all together and - not least - a credible politico-military strategy to use military force properly.

This book sheds valuable light on how and why governments make the decisions they do, and equips the reader with the tools to make their own judgements about British defence policy as it emerges for the future. Book jacket.