UK Defence Procurement since 1997
A Study in Failure?
Format:Hardback
Publisher:Taylor & Francis Ltd
Publishing:21st Aug '26
£155.00
This title is due to be published on 21st August, and will be despatched as soon as possible.
This book offers an in-depth analysis of the failures of the UK’s defence acquisition and procurement process, and the broader ramifications for the UK’s national security.
The UK’s record on defence acquisition and procurement constitutes one of the biggest British public policy scandals of the modern era - albeit one largely concealed from voters and taxpayers. Its recent history is characterised by high levels of incompetence, weak governance and a lack of proper accountability; defects compounded by a ‘conspiracy of optimism’ that things will turn out differently simply through the power of wishful thinking. Focusing largely on events since 1997, this book provides the first detailed assessment of the failures of this period and compares them with the performance of overseas counterparts, such as the United States, France, Australia and Canada. By focusing on a wide variety of expensive and technically disastrous case studies across all services and domains, the book seeks to highlight some of the key lessons that recent history has provided about the complex network of interrelated factors that have led to so many disappointments and failures in British military procurement. As such it demonstrates how these problems have affected UK national security and its military and diplomatic standing in a volatile and uncertain world.
This book will be of much interest to students of British politics, defence studies, strategic studies and International Relations
'With this book Bob Self confirms his place as the leading scholar on the history of UK Defence Policy: who made it, why it was made the way it was, what the implications of that defence policy was for the UK national security status. His reach extends from the mid-Twentieth Century and now up to current day. If anyone wants to understand why UK procurement looks as it does, why UK defence has arrived at that state it is, and what the fundamental political principles driving that journey were then they must read this book, along with Self's previous work.'
Greg Kennedy, Professor of Strategic Foreign Policy, King's College London, UK
'A Study in Failure provides an important and timely monograph. It is essential reading for anyone seeking to understand the United Kingdom’s problems in acquiring major defense, programmed in terms of cost, delivery times, and performance. It comprehensively explains the predicament of defence procurement and cogently advocates for its urgent need to be reformed.'
Matthew Uttley, Chair in Defence Studies, King’s College London, UK
‘This book could hardly be more timely. The international landscape has completely changed since 1997, new threats have emerged or re-emerged and a slow process of rearmament in consequence has begun. As that happens, it is imperative that policymakers learn from the assessment and procurement failures so expertly analysed here by Bob Self.’
Pippa Catterall, Professor of History and Policy, University of Westminster, UK
ISBN: 9781032783505
Dimensions: unknown
Weight: unknown
290 pages