Classical Theorists II

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Classical Theorists (II)

• Carl von Clausewitz

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Points to remember

• Lesson 2
• Mil Rev of Pre-Nap
• Characteristics
• Treaty of Westphalia
• Effects
• Age of Limited Warfare
• Characteristics

• Lesson 3
• Levee en masse
• Climatic battle
• Achieving political goals

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Theory and Nature of War
Ive never actually stormed a castle, but Ive
taken a bunch of siege-management courses.
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Classical Theorists Clausewitz

• Educational objectives
• Examine Clausewitzs approach to theory
• Explain the relationship between politics, policy
  and war
• Identify and explain the trinity of war.
• Explain Clausewitzian concepts
• Understand how MCDP-1 incorporates Clausewitz

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Historical Setting

• French Revolution
• Social and military reform
• Post Napoleon

One of Us
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Context

• Post Napoleonic Europe
• How to account for Napoleon?
• Continuity
• Change
• Major change

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Who was Clausewitz?

• Strategist
• Historian
• Historical philosopher
• Political theorist
• Scholar/teacher

• Practical soldier
• Staff officer
• Dry intellectual
• Military dilettante

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Clausewitz

• Basic premise
• Critical analysis to
• Recreate the thinking process
• See war as a social activity
• Historical analysis
• Contextual
• Perspective

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History and Theory

• To explain
• To show an application
• To demonstrate a phenomenon
• To deduce a doctrine
• To examine holistically

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Historical analysis

• A conceptual scheme for understanding war
• Theory
• Not a guide to action
• A guide to study
• Acquisition of insight
• History was relative
• A dynamic process of change
• Beyond control or comprehension

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Method of Presentation

• Concept
• Dialectical examination
• Thesis a position
• Antithesis its opposite
• Synthesis best of both

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Method of Presentation

• Dialectical examination
• Thesis
• War as a duel or wrestling match
• Antithesis
• War as a continuation of politics
• Synthesis
• An inherently unstable interaction of forces
• A fascinating trinity

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On War

• Why
• What

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What is war for Clausewitz?

• Is not
• Drivers
• Social intercourse
• Business
• Wrestling match
• An act of force.

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What is war for Clausewitz?

• An act of force
• Creative, not dogmatic solutions.
• Studied to develop
• Not principles
• Judgment, intuition, critical thinking

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War

• is a continuation
• of politics
• by other means.

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War

• A form of social intercourse
• Actions and reactions
• Neither art nor science
• Never unilateral
• A wrestling match
• Climate of war
• danger, exertion, uncertainty, chance

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Absolute War

• Unreal--Purely Theoretical
• A Logical Fantasy
• Warning and Benchmark

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Real War

• War as experienced
• Subordinated
• Constrained
• Spectrum of conflict
• Forms
• Limited war
• Unlimited war

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War

• Absolute war
• Logical abstraction
• Unrestrained

• Real war
• Experienced war
• Constrained

• The difference is due to
• Friction
• Policy
• Trinity

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War

• Involves a fascinating trinity
• Violence , hatred enmity
• Blind natural force
• Chance and probability
• Creativity
• Subordination
• Rationality

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Trinitarian Analysis

• No two wars are the same
• Not linear or predictable
• Interaction of forces
• Technology, economic and material factors
• Both sides

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Clausewitz and Politics

• Policy is rational
• War as expression of politics
• Policy v politics
• Relationship between civil and military leaders
• Morality of going to war

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Fundamental ideas

• Strategy
• Relationship between army and society
• Importance of material and moral factors
• Individuals affecting events
• Relationship between offense and defense
• Importance of chance

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Fundamental ideas

• Strategy the use of engagements for the object
  of the war
• Complete or partial destruction
• Center of gravity as objective
• Concentration at the decisive point
• Defense more powerful
• Speed

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Fundamental ideas

• Relationship between army and society
• War as extension of policy
• Military leaders subordinate to political leaders
• Strategy subordinate to policy
• Both must understand kind of war
• The remarkable trinity
• Military planning

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Fundamental ideas

• Importance of material and moral factors
• Material factors
• Moral elements
• Force Multiplier

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Fundamental ideas

• Individuals affecting events

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Fundamental ideas

• Relationship between offense and defense
• Defense more powerful, but negative
• Offense weaker, but positive

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Fundamental ideas

• Specific concepts
• Friction
• Genius
• Center of gravity
• Culminating point
• Fog
• Importance of chance

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Fundamental ideas

• Strategy
• Relationship between army and society
• Importance of material and moral factors
• Individuals affecting events
• Relationship between offense and defense
• Importance of chance

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The Reception of Clausewitz

• In Britain
• In America
• Politics not relevant to military strategy
• Then Vietnam
• Weinberger Doctrine
• Powell Doctrine
• Clinton Doctrine

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Previous theorists

• Sun Tzu
• Machiavelli
• Vauban
• Jomini

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Previous theorists

• Clausewitz and Sun Tzu
• Bloodless battle v real war
• History as dynamic process
• Subordination of military to political
  considerations
• Destruction of will v forces
• Winner-take-all v limited war

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Previous theorists

• Machiavelli
• Vauban

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Later theorists

• Jomini
• The Germans
• The French
• The U.S.

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Clausewitz in US and USMC Doctrine

• A nonlinear world-view
• War as the expression of both policy and
  politics
• The trinity
• Limited and unlimited war
• Annihilation and erosion strategies
• The balance of power mechanism
• Center of gravity
• The culminating point
• of victory
• of the attack

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Criticisms

• General
• Michael Howard
• John Keegan
• Martin van Creveld

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Legacies

• Read by
• Marx, Engel, Lenin
• Never read by
• Grant, Lincoln

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Fundamental Problems

• Finding the right level of sophistication
• The danger of politicizing military institutions
• Gauging the unpredictability of war

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Issues for Consideration

• War as continuation of politics
• Characterizing War
• The Trinity
• Culminating Point
• Center of Gravity

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Issues for Consideration

• War as continuation of politics
• Different interpretations?
• Policy versus politics
• Need for political control
• The trinity
• The danger of politicizing military institutions
• Escalation

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Issues for Consideration

• Characterizing War
• Nature of war?
• Measurable elements
• Time, distance
• Immeasurable elements
• Troop morale, commanders skills
• Theory of war

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Issues for Consideration

• The Trinity
• Reflects the changed conditions
• Composition
• Mirror image

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Issues for Consideration

• Culminating Point
• Demonstrated in Russia?
• Napoleon in Spain?
• Today?
• Applicable to levels of war?
• Value

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Issues for Consideration

• Center of Gravity
• Definition
• Critical vulnerability?
• Definition
• Difference?

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Issues for Consideration

• Questions?
• War as continuation of politics
• Characterizing War
• The Trinity
• Culminating Point
• Center of Gravity

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Points to remember Lesson 4

• Definitions of war
• Thoughts on war
• Difference between real and absolute war
• The trinity
• Additional strength for the attacker
• Levels of war

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A last thought

• In the realm of military affairs, there is no God
  but the God of War, and Clausewitz is his
  prophet.
• The Islamic There is no God but Allah, and
  Mohammed is his prophet.