Between War and Peace: How America Ends Its Wars

Between War and Peace examines how the United States has concluded its major military conflicts throughout history. The book presents fifteen essays by different historians, each analyzing a specific war's ending from the American Revolution through Operation Desert Storm. The volume investigates the complex political, diplomatic, and military factors that shaped how each conflict reached its resolution. Through case studies of wars both well-known and overlooked, the authors explore the challenges American leaders faced in transitioning from active combat to sustainable peace. Editor Matthew Moten structures the collection chronologically, allowing readers to trace the evolution of American approaches to war termination across two centuries. The essays incorporate primary sources and strategic analysis while remaining accessible to general readers. The book raises fundamental questions about the relationship between military victory and lasting political outcomes. Its examination of historical patterns offers context for understanding contemporary challenges in concluding modern military engagements.

Readers found this collection of essays provided useful analysis of how America concludes its wars, though some noted uneven quality between chapters. Liked: - Detailed examination of negotiation processes and peace treaties - Strong chapters on Civil War and WWI - Clear explanations of military and diplomatic considerations - Inclusion of often-overlooked conflicts like War of 1812 Disliked: - Superficial coverage of some conflicts - Limited discussion of more recent wars (post-Vietnam) - Academic writing style can be dense - Some repetition between chapters One reader noted: "The Korean War chapter alone is worth the price." Another criticized: "The conclusion feels rushed and doesn't fully tie the themes together." Ratings: Goodreads: 3.8/5 (21 ratings) Amazon: 4.1/5 (12 ratings) Google Books: 4/5 (8 ratings) Reviews highlighted the book works better as a reference text than a continuous read, with most criticism focused on its uneven depth of analysis between different conflicts.

How Wars End by Gideon Rose This examination of American war termination strategies from World War I through Iraq analyzes the decisions and mistakes made during crucial transition periods from combat to peace.

War Time: An Idea, Its History, Its Consequences by Mary L. Dudziak The book explores the relationship between wartime and peacetime in American history, examining how the boundaries between these states have blurred in modern warfare.

The Right Way to Lose a War by Dominic Tierney The text presents historical case studies of military withdrawal strategies and establishes frameworks for managing unsuccessful military campaigns.

After Victory by G. John Ikenberry The work analyzes post-war settlements throughout history and examines the institutional strategies nations use to build stable peace after conflicts.

War Made New by Max Boot The book traces the evolution of warfare from 1500 to the present, focusing on the transitions between different military ages and their impact on peace settlements.

📚 The book examines 14 distinct American wars, from the Revolutionary War through the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan 🎓 Editor Matthew Moten served as head of the Department of History at West Point and has extensive experience teaching military strategy 💭 The work challenges the common belief that the U.S. is skilled at winning wars but struggles with securing peace, showing how the two processes are interconnected 📖 Each chapter is written by a different military historian, offering varied perspectives and expertise on how different conflicts reached their conclusions 🗺️ The book reveals patterns in American war termination strategies across centuries, demonstrating how earlier conflicts have influenced modern approaches to ending wars