ABSTRACT
This chapter considers how naval confl ict might develop through to the middle of the twenty-fi rst century. 1 It outlines some of the broad factors that will infl uence it, in particular the international strategic context, and then explores the impact of technology in the form of new and emerging capabilities. This second section in particular draws on history to explore previous examples of debates about the impact of new technologies on navies; this is not to claim that history provides either objective ‘lessons’ or even exact parallels. It does, however, off er a useful guide that clarifi es to some extent the questions that must be asked as well as the answers that might be off ered. It is not realistic to put forward detailed predictions of how the future might unfold over a decade, let alone over 30 or 40 years; yet, it is possible and even useful to look forward and to think about how events might develop in outline, if not in great detail.
