Clausewitz and Contemporary War

Clausewitz and Contemporary War PDF Author: Antulio J. Echevarria II
Publisher: OUP Oxford
ISBN: 0191647616
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 220

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Book Description
While many scholars agree that Clausewitz's On War is frequently misunderstood, almost none have explored his methodology to see whether it might enhance our understanding of his concepts. This book lays out Clausewitz's methodology in a brisk and straightforward style. It then uses that as a basis for understanding his contributions to the ever growing body of knowledge of war. The specific contributions this study addresses are Clausewitz's theories concerning the nature of war, the relationship between war and politics, and several of the major principles of strategy he examined. These theories and principles lie at the heart of the current debates over the nature of contemporary conflict. They also underpin much of the instruction that prepares military and civilian leaders for their roles in the development and execution of military strategy. Thus, they are important even in circles where Clausewitz is only briefly studied. While understanding On War is no more a prerequisite for winning wars than knowledge is a requirement for exercising power, Clausewitz's opus has become something of an authoritative reference for those desiring to expand their knowledge of war. By linking method and concept, this book contributes significantly to that end.

Clausewitz and Contemporary War

Clausewitz and Contemporary War PDF Author: Antulio J. Echevarria II
Publisher: OUP Oxford
ISBN: 0191647616
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 220

Get Book

Book Description
While many scholars agree that Clausewitz's On War is frequently misunderstood, almost none have explored his methodology to see whether it might enhance our understanding of his concepts. This book lays out Clausewitz's methodology in a brisk and straightforward style. It then uses that as a basis for understanding his contributions to the ever growing body of knowledge of war. The specific contributions this study addresses are Clausewitz's theories concerning the nature of war, the relationship between war and politics, and several of the major principles of strategy he examined. These theories and principles lie at the heart of the current debates over the nature of contemporary conflict. They also underpin much of the instruction that prepares military and civilian leaders for their roles in the development and execution of military strategy. Thus, they are important even in circles where Clausewitz is only briefly studied. While understanding On War is no more a prerequisite for winning wars than knowledge is a requirement for exercising power, Clausewitz's opus has become something of an authoritative reference for those desiring to expand their knowledge of war. By linking method and concept, this book contributes significantly to that end.

On War

On War PDF Author: Carl von Clausewitz
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Military art and science
Languages : en
Pages : 388

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Book Description


Clausewitz on Small War

Clausewitz on Small War PDF Author: Carl von Clausewitz
Publisher: Oxford University Press
ISBN: 0198737130
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 260

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Book Description
Widely recognized as one of the most important theorists of warfare, important strands of Carl von Clausewitz's thinking on the subject are not widely known. In 'Clausewitz on Small War', Christopher Daase and James W. Davis begin to address this unfortunate state of affairs. In this volume they have assembled and translated Clausewitz's most important texts devoted to the analysis of asymetric, unconventional, guerrilla, and small-unit warfare, including Clausewitz's "Lectures on Small War", held at the Prussian War College in 1810 and 1811.

Carl Von Clausewitz's On War

Carl Von Clausewitz's On War PDF Author: Andrew Holmes
Publisher: Infinite Success
ISBN: 9781906821357
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 0

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Book Description
Soldier and intellectual Carl von Clausewitz first entered combat at the tender age of thirteen. He later rose to the rank of Major General, married into the Prussian nobility and wrote a book which was to become one of the most influential works on military strategy ever published. On War is one of the first books on modern military strategy. Writing mostly after the Napoleonic wars, between 1816 and 1830, von Clausewitz never lived to see it published. He had a theory that it was the integration of political, societal and economic issues that was the most important factor in deciding the outcome of a war. This new theory made On War one of the most important texts on strategy ever written. On War has been translated into practically every major language and remains a source of inspiration for modern strategic thinkers. In this fascinating new interpretation, Andrew Holmes illustrates how von Clausewitz's ideas can be applied to contemporary business. Readers will discover:* Why business, like war, is neither an art nor a science;* How to 'fortify' their business;* The importance of a strong commander;* The secrets of being ruthless;* Why they should bypass their smart phones and open up the lines of communication.By re-interpreting von Clausewitz's original theories, Holmes demonstrates that On War is not just about the battlefield. This clear, concise and waffle-free book shows how you can treat life like a military operation and steer your troops in the right direction in the world of business. Andrew Holmes' Carl von Clausewitz's On War illustrates the timeless nature of von Clausewitz's insights by bringing them to life with modern examples and business case studies. This brilliant interpretation of On War is an entertaining accompaniment to one of the most famous strategy books ever written.

War from the Ground Up

War from the Ground Up PDF Author: Emile Simpson
Publisher: Oxford University Press
ISBN: 019933353X
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 298

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Book Description
This is a philosophical treatise on war written by an Oxford grad who served in Afghanistan.

Clausewitz's Timeless Trinity

Clausewitz's Timeless Trinity PDF Author: Colin M. Fleming
Publisher: Routledge
ISBN: 1317165225
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 218

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Book Description
This is the first book to apply the Clausewitzian Trinity of 'passion, chance, and reason' to the experience of real war. It explores the depth and validity of the concept against the conflicts of former Yugoslavia - wars thought to epitomise a post-Clausewitzian age. In doing so it demonstrates the timeless message of the Trinity, but also ties the Trinitarian idea back into Clausewitz's political argument. Intended to build on the existing corpus of scholarship, this book differs from the existing literature in two ways. By applying the Trinity to the wars of former Yugoslavia 1991-1995, it explores war at its micro-foundations, assessing the complex cause-and-effect nexus of reciprocity produced by actions between belligerents embroiled in dynamic competition perpetuated by their own interaction. Providing valuable insights into the complexities of real war fuelled by passion, undermined by chance, and shaped by reason, it is the first study to bridge the Clausewitzian world of theory with real experience. Examining each part of the triad separately, the book explores the multiple manifestations of hostility and chance, before then assessing the influence of these elements on the policies of the belligerents as the war evolved.

Decoding Clausewitz

Decoding Clausewitz PDF Author: Jon Tetsuro Sumida
Publisher: University Press of Kansas
ISBN: 0700618198
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 264

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Book Description
For nearly two centuries, On War, by Carl Phillip Gottfried von Clausewitz (1780-1831), has been the bible for statesmen and military professionals, strategists, theorists, and historians concerned about armed conflict. The source of the famous aphorism that "war is an extension of politics by other means," it has been widely read and debated. But, as Jon Sumida shows in this daring new look at Clausewitz's magnum opus, its full meaning has eluded most readers-until now. Approaching Clausewitz's classic as if it were an encoded text, Sumida deciphers this cryptic masterwork and offers a more productive way of looking at the sources and evolution of its author's thought. Sumida argues that On War should be viewed as far more complete and coherent than has been supposed. Moreover, he challenges the notion that On War is an attempt to explain the nature of armed conflict through the formulation of abstract theories. Clausewitz's primary concern, Sumida contends, was practical instruction of the military and political leadership of his country. To achieve this end, Clausewitz invented a method of reenacting the psychological difficulties of high command in order to promote the powers of intuition that he believed were essential to effective strategic decision-making. In addition, Sumida argues that Clausewitz's primary strategic proposition is that the defense is a stronger form of war than the offense. This concept, Sumida maintains, must be understood in order to make sense of Clausewitz's positions on absolute and real war, guerrilla warfare, and the relationship of war and policy/politics. Sumida's pathbreaking critique is supported by examination of the Prussian officer's experience during the Napoleonic Wars, previous major theoretical and historical scholarship on Clausewitz and his writing, and modern philosophical and scientific works that have much in common with Clausewitz's creative guide to the consideration of strategic practice. A major study of intellectual and military history, Sumida's book provides a provocative and above all readily comprehensible treatment of a previously inaccessible classic. It will surely become essential reading for all military professionals and serious students of military thought.

Clausewitz's Contemporary Relevance

Clausewitz's Contemporary Relevance PDF Author: Robert Carlyle
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Armed Forces
Languages : en
Pages : 44

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Book Description
"This paper will re-evaluate the validity of the central propositions in On War with respect to modern technological, economic, political, and social conditions. This reappraisal is carried out in order to answer whether or not Clausewitz's approach to the study of war has any relevance for the modern analyst of defence. Moreover, it is essential to bear in mind that any general theory of war must include not only the historical and current forms that war has taken on, but it must be able to adapt to change in the future. Thus, this study is largely deductive and speculative; however, because war is a practical activity, constant reference must always be made to reality ... In order to determine if Clausewitz's approach is still relevant, this paper will discuss the original theory, challenges to it, and the possibility of theoretical growth in response to the limitations"--Page 3

Clausewitz in the Twenty-First Century

Clausewitz in the Twenty-First Century PDF Author: Hew Strachan
Publisher: Oxford University Press on Demand
ISBN: 0199232024
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 334

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Book Description
The volume considers Clausewitz's timeless On War against the background of actual armed conflict. With scholars from a range of disciplines and countries, it throws new light on a classic text and contemporary issues.

Clausewitz and Modern Strategy

Clausewitz and Modern Strategy PDF Author: Michael I. Handel
Publisher: Psychology Press
ISBN: 0714632945
Category : Military art and science
Languages : en
Pages : 346

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Book Description
Clausewitz and Modern Strategy is the first-ever volume devoted to the influence and interpretation of Clausewitz' On War to be published in the English language. Among all the better-known works on military theory in Western civilization, it is Carl von Clausewitz' magnum opus that has been able to withstand every kind of political, social, economic, and technological change since it first appeared in 1832 and will always remain of more than purely historical interest. This collection of essays, first presented at an international conference on Clausewitz at the US Army War College in April 1985, spans every possible aspect of Clausewitz' influence. It is grouped into three parts. The first addresses the issue of whether an early nineteenth-century book on war is still pertinent today in an era when war - more than any other human activity - has been revolutionized by modern technology. In the second part, analyses are made of selected theoretical concepts and other specific subjects discussed by Clausewitz, ranging from chance and uncertainty, space and time, and intelligence in war to guerrilla warfare. The final part takes a critical look at Clausewitz' influence on the development of strategic doctrines in several European countries, as well as the degree to which his theories were not only understood but misunderstood by various military thinkers. In many instances, Clausewitz' readers interpreted his ideas out of context and selectively employed his theories to match their own preconceived notions. Like many other works on political theory and philosophy, On War is not always easy to read and understand. Clausewitz and Modern Strategy provides an excellent introduction to the complex world of Clauswitzian thought, offering a better overall understanding of Clausewitz' key concepts, his system of thinking, and his influence on the study of modern war. It is indispensable reading for all students, military historians, strategic analysts and thinkers.