The utility of naval power: four questions for navies

摘要

The two primary themes in this analysis are: first, that naval power can only have utility if it has political impact; and, second, that this most often means that navies must be closely integrated with other military and indeed non-military levers of national power. The questions this analysis aims to raise, and some of the answers it suggests, are intended to challenge some conceptions of naval power which see it as somehow separate and independent from other elements of power. It is tempting for navies to emphasise their unique qualities and the roles that they alone can play. Tradition, institutional identity, and the need to compete with other services for funding can all encourage this tendency. Navies are indeed unique institutions, and the challenges of life at sea are like no others. However, if they are to continue to be seen as useful and valuable assets, navies must be able to explain how their distinctive capabilities can contribute to broader national and international objectives, ashore as well as at sea.