Building Military Science for the Benefit of Society

Book excerpt: The present book not only illustrates the ISMS Conference's objectives and presents the contents of the lectures, but also expands on them through further in-depth contributions; the results of academic research carried out on the Conference topic, both across disciplines and ISMS member states, are thus further illuminated. The book intends to provide teachers with a guide to possible developments in the field of military science and students with greater insights into its objectives and principles. The key question is what added value, what kind of USP military science could furnish for society, what specific support not already covered by other scientific disciplines or organizations? If it were only the science of organizing, structuring and commanding armed forces, it would not be necessary to define and establish an independent scientific discipline; the military itself could accomplish all that in the required quality by itself. What would give legitimacy to an independent discipline called Military Science, is a comprehensive (i.e. not only military-strategic) organic collection of primarily intellectual capabilities, safeguarding the secure, long-term survival of the state and its people thus contributing to the benefit of society. In order to increase the publication's academic value and to provide authors with an additional incentive to contribute in future, the book was subjected to a peer review process.