SKU: 9182892473

The Dragons and the Snakes: How the Rest Learned to Fight the West

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The Dragons and the Snakes: How the Rest Learned to Fight the WestJust a few years ago, people spoke of the US as a hyperpower a titan stalking the world stage with more relative power than any empire in history. Yet as early as 1993, newly appointed CIA director James Woolsey pointed out that although Western powers had "slain a large dragon" by defeating the Soviet Union in the Cold War, they now faced a "bewildering variety of poisonous snakes." In Dragons and Snakes, the eminent soldier scholar David Kilcullen

Just a few years ago, people spoke of the US as a hyperpower-a titan stalking the world stage with more relative power than any empire in history. Yet as early as 1993, newly-appointed CIA director James Woolsey pointed out that although Western powers had "slain a large dragon" by defeating the Soviet Union in the Cold War, they now faced a "bewildering variety of poisonous snakes."

In Dragons and Snakes, the eminent soldier-scholar David Kilcullen asks how, and what, opponents of the West have learned during the last quarter-century of conflict. Applying a combination of evolutionary theory and detailed field observation, he explains what happened to the "snakes"-non-state threats including terrorists and guerrillas-and the "dragons"-state-based competitors such as Russia and China. He explores how enemies learn under conditions of conflict, and examines how Western dominance over a very particular, narrowly-defined form of warfare since the Cold War has created a fitness landscape that forces adversaries to adapt in ways that present serious new challenges to America and its allies. Within the world's contemporary conflict zones, Kilcullen argues, state and non-state threats have increasingly come to resemble each other, with states adopting non-state techniques and non-state actors now able to access levels of precision and lethal weapon systems once only available to governments.

A counterintuitive look at this new, vastly more complex environment, Dragons and Snakes will not only reshape our understanding of the West's enemies' capabilities, but will also show how we can respond given the increasing limits on US power.


Binding Type: Hardcover
Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA
Published: 03/03/2020
ISBN: 9780190265687
Pages: 336
Weight: 1.35lbs
Size: 9.40h x 6.40w x 1.30d

Review Citations: Kirkus Reviews 01/01/2020 pg. 74
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SKU: 9182892473

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Evan M.
Fort Morgan, US
★★★★★ 5
Attractive and Functional
Color: Walnut
I bought this to prop up my MacBook Pro M2 to save space on my desk while I am using a dock. The base is nicely adjustable, and holds the laptop securely. Sturdy metal base and attractive wood side pieces. My MacBook has never felt like it might tip, and I have a cat who squeezes past it to reach my office window multiple times per day. If you like the look, I'd highly recommend it for functionality.
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Reviewed in the United States on March 6, 2025
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Bust-a-knot charters
Fort Morgan, US
★★★★★ 5
Good item
Color: Black, Size: 48"W x 12"D, 1 Pack
Heavy-duty and looks clean once mounted. Plenty of space for storage or display. Installation was straightforward and it holds weight well.
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Reviewed in the United States on March 22, 2026
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Don
Boise, US
★★★★★ 5
Great quality for the price point
Color: Walnut, Size: 48"W x 12"D, 1 Pack
Great quality for the price. Not sure why they include drywall anchors? You need to put the holding bracket into the studs. Otherwise, it will feel wobbly.
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Reviewed in the United States on January 20, 2026
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Sharon
Fort Morgan, US
★★★★★ 5
Floating shelves
Color: Oak, Size: 36"W x 12"D, 1 Pack
Very happy with my purchase. Looks great in my kitchen
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Reviewed in the United States on May 5, 2026
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Sara Cortez
Carnegie, US
★★★★★ 1
Metal bracket is cheap and bends easily
Color: White, Size: 36"W x 12"D, 1 Pack
Worst shelf I have ever purchased. Waisted my money, do not waist yours. Installed with the anchors the shelf came with and it did not hold the shelf at all. This happened with nothing on the shelf, just trying to install with the directions given. The entire metal bracket bent and now the shelf is completely useless. IKEA would have been a better option. So disappointing
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Reviewed in the United States on February 16, 2026

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