Viewpoints
Opinion

The Human Element in Warfare

Why today’s military innovations won’t change the nature of war.
The Human Element in Warfare
U.S. Marines walk after a counter-landing live fire exercise during the annual U.S.–Philippines joint military "Balikatan" exercise in Rizal, Palawan, on April 28, 2025. Jam Sta Rosa/AFP via Getty Images
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Commentary

In the 1990s, the military world buzzed with the promise of a “Revolution in Military Affairs” (RMA), heralding a new era defined by cutting-edge technology and transformative strategies. Yet, as history has shown, the anticipated seismic shifts in warfare were often overstated, overshadowed by the enduring truths of human nature and the timeless nature of war.

Andrew Latham
Andrew Latham
Author
Andrew Latham, Ph.D., is a tenured professor at Macalester College in Saint Paul, Minnesota. He is also a Senior Washington Fellow with the Institute for Peace and Diplomacy in Ottawa and a non-resident fellow with Defense Priorities, a think tank in Washington, D.C.