What we're reading: July 2025
This month at the Defence Research Network, we’ve been exploring two insightful books on military command and the evolving nature of belief and authority in turbulent times.
Holding Out: The German Army and Operational Command in 1917 by Tony Cowan offers a ground-breaking analysis of how German military leaders adapted to the shifting realities of the Western Front, shedding new light on command culture, internal politics, and the defeat of the 1917 Entente offensives. Meanwhile, Marc-André Argentino’s QAnon: From Conspiracy Theory to New Religious Movement explores QAnon as a hyper-real religion, tracing its evolution, gender dynamics, and ties to political extremism. Together, these books offer fresh insights into institutional adaptation and belief in times of upheaval.
Holding Out: The German Army and Operational Command in 1917
by Tony Cowan
This new book examines how the German army adapted its operational command during a pivotal phase of the First World War, from November 1916 to mid-1917. Focusing on internal politics, command culture, and battle management, it offers a detailed analysis of how Germany repelled the 1917 Entente offensives. Drawing on new sources, it provides fresh insights into German resilience and sheds new light on the battles of Arras and the Nivelle Offensive.
QAnonFrom Conspiracy Theory to New Religious Movement
by Marc-André Argentino
This new book explores the QAnon movement as a form of lived religion, tracing its development through three phases: proto, canonical, and apocryphal. Marc-André Argentino argues that QAnon operates more as a hyper-real new religious movement than a mere conspiracy theory. The book examines its origins, gender dynamics, links to violence, and how the movement evolved after Trump’s 2020 election loss and the January 6th insurrection.
