David Kilcullen wrote The Dragons and the Snakes: How the Rest Learned to Fight the West. Steve McCrone and I asked him what that adaptation means for military leaders, and for business.
How the rest adapted
David explains how adversaries studied Western militaries and found ways around their strengths. Bureaucracy and slow adaptation make that easier. He also points out how rarely large defense organizations hold anyone to account for losing a war.
Liminal warfare
Russia and China work below the threshold of open war, where conflict and commerce blur together. David calls this liminal warfare. The contest stretches into markets, supply chains and public opinion.
Scaling up
David also works with founders. Many of them struggle when they move from a few premium clients to high volume. He sees the same problem in military innovation.
For us, liminal warfare is a contest over orientation. Whoever shapes what the other side sees and believes gains the advantage before anyone fires a shot.
Where is a competitor working in the gaps your rules don’t cover?
Listen and watch:
Apple Podcasts:
Spotify:
No Way Out on YouTube:
https://youtube.com/@nowayoutpodcast