The Art of Political Warfare

The Art of Political Warfare highlights the striking similarities between politics and war. Applying military thought to domestic politics, John J. Pitney, Jr., persuasively argues that the language of war teaches us about political activity. Combining lively story telling with solid scholarship, he ranges across history to produce a unique field manual for politics.

Pitney discusses how military principle can explain victory or defeat in politics, whether for an election campaign or a legislative blitz. Each chapter takes a single concept form the military—strategy, leadership, training, intelligence, deception logistics, friction, family-and applies it to political concerns ranging from campaign warchests to legislative tactics.

This strikingly original book will appeal to campaign operatives, armchair political strategists, and students of political science. In this presidential election year, The Art of Political Warfare is necessary reading for people fighting in the political trenches those who simply want an engrossing view of the battlefield.