Stephen Biddle facts for kids

Stephen D. Biddle (born January 19, 1959) is an American author, military historian, and expert on how countries deal with each other. He often writes about U.S. foreign policy. Right now, he is a professor at School of International and Public Affairs, Columbia University. He became well-known for his 2004 book, Military Power: Explaining Victory and Defeat in Modern Battle. He also helped Generals Stanley McChrystal and David Petraeus create plans for the U.S. military.

About Stephen Biddle

His Early Life and Education

Stephen Biddle was born and grew up in Wilmington, Delaware. His parents, Robert D. and Blanche V. Biddle, often talked about politics. They encouraged him to share his thoughts. Stephen remembers these talks happening "from almost as far back as I can remember." His father wanted him to think for himself. Stephen spent a lot of his childhood reading about military history and world events.

As a young person, Biddle had internships in Washington D.C. He studied how the U.S. plans its defense. But he wasn't sure if he could "actually make a living" doing this kind of work. In 1981, he earned a degree in Fine Arts from Harvard University. This degree mostly involved studying art history.

His first job after college was at a research group in Washington, D.C. This group worked with the U.S. Department of Defense. From 1981 to 1983, he used computer models to predict what might happen in battles. These models looked at possible fights between the Warsaw Pact and NATO. Biddle later doubted how accurate these models were. This doubt helped him write his first book, Military Power: Explaining Victory and Defeat in Modern Battle.

Biddle continued his studies at Harvard. He earned a master's degree in 1985 and a PhD in 1992. Both degrees focused on American public policy. He joked that he "got to know every bad restaurant in Harvard Square very well" during his studies. He was especially inspired by his professors, Albert Carnesale and Michael Nacht. They were experts in political science.

His Career as an Expert

Before joining School of International and Public Affairs, Columbia University in 2018, Biddle was a professor at George Washington University. He also worked at the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) starting in 2006. He is still connected to the CFR today. He also taught at the U.S. Army War College.

Stephen Biddle has written for many well-known newspapers. These include The New York Times, The Washington Post, and The Wall Street Journal.

His book, Military Power: Explaining Victory and Defeat in Modern Battle, came out in 2004. It won several awards, including the Arthur Ross Award Silver Medal. In 2021, he wrote another book called Nonstate Warfare: The Military Methods of Guerrillas, Warlords, and Militias. This book looked at how groups that are not countries fight wars.

Biddle has also helped the U.S. military directly. He received the U.S. Army Superior Civilian Service Medal twice. He also got the U.S. Army Commander's Award for Public Service. He advised General Stanley McChrystal in Kabul in 2009. He also worked with General David Petraeus in Baghdad in 2007 and in Washington from 2008 to 2009.

Stephen Biddle's Ideas

Thoughts on U.S. Foreign Policy

In 2006, Stephen Biddle said that the George W. Bush administration did not have a clear plan for the war on terror. He felt their goals and enemies were "quite vague." He talked about the "Bush doctrine," which aimed to bring democracies to the Arab world. Biddle called this a "very demanding program" but also a valid idea, even if it was costly and risky.

He also noted in 2006 that the War in Afghanistan became harder for American forces over time. At first, they fought less-trained militants. But later, they faced well-trained fighters like al-Qaeda members. These groups used fighting methods similar to Western armies. In 2009, Biddle called the war in Afghanistan "perhaps the most controversial issue" in U.S. defense policy.

Views on Military Technology

Biddle has often talked about how Americans think about military technology. He said:

Americans love technology. We are fascinated by gadgets. So, when you ask people if gadgets matter in war, most of us say, "Of course!" The military also expects new technology to change everything. People might think armies are slow to change, but the American military has often been the opposite. They expect big changes from new inventions.

On U.S. Global Power

Stephen Biddle has also shared his thoughts on America's role in the world:

Right now, we live in a world with one main superpower: the United States. This has benefits for the U.S. and maybe for the world. But no country stays the top power forever. The Roman Empire fell, the British Empire fell. Eventually, another country will challenge the U.S. for this position. It's important for U.S. leaders to try and delay this. Even if fighting terrorism is our main focus, we must also think about the future. What if China or India becomes a rival? This could lead to much bigger conflicts. We should try to push that day further into the future.

See also

• Members of the Council on Foreign Relations
• Max Boot