Rob Johnson has written a second essay published by Engelsberg Ideas Notebook. The article is entitled “Human behaviour will still determine who wins wars” and argues that digitalised defence systems and new technology are important, but they do not eliminate the age old realities of warfare.

“Above all, war is more than battles and operations. Regardless of the technology, it is, as Thucydides reminds us, the human aspects that matter most. If the public embrace the desire to fight to survive, are willing to endure and sacrifice, then systems will become less important. Even where superior and overwhelming firepower is employed, if a population refuses to submit, they will endure defeats in battle and keep fighting. Multi-domain integration determines only how to fight; it will not necessarily determine who wins wars.”

Click here to read the essay.