Classical Theorists (II)

1. Classical Theorists (II) Carl von Clausewitz

2. 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 Points to remember

3. Theory and Nature of War “I’ve never actually stormed a castle, but I’ve taken a bunch of siege-management courses.”

4. Classical Theorists: Clausewitz • Educational objectives • Examine Clausewitz’s 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

5. Historical Setting French Revolution Social and military reform Post Napoleon One of Us

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

7. Strategist Historian Historical philosopher Political theorist Scholar/teacher Practical soldier Staff officer Dry intellectual Military dilettante Who was Clausewitz?

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

9. History and Theory • To explain • To show an application • To demonstrate a phenomenon • To deduce a doctrine • To examine holistically

10. 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

11. Method of Presentation • Concept • Dialectical examination • Thesis: a position • Antithesis: its opposite • Synthesis: best of both

12. 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

13. On War • Why • What

14. What is war for Clausewitz? • Is not • Drivers • Social intercourse • Business • Wrestling match • An act of force….

15. What is war for Clausewitz? • An act of force • Creative, not dogmatic solutions. • Studied to develop • Not principles • Judgment, intuition, critical thinking

16. “War • is a continuation • of politics • by other means.”

17. 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

18. Absolute War • Unreal--Purely Theoretical • A “Logical Fantasy” • Warning and Benchmark

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

20. Absolute war Logical abstraction Unrestrained Real war Experienced war Constrained War • The difference is due to: • Friction • Policy • Trinity

21. War • Involves a “fascinating trinity” • Violence , hatred enmity • Blind natural force • Chance and probability • Creativity • Subordination • Rationality

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

23. 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

24. 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

25. 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

26. 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

27. Fundamental ideas • Importance of material and moral factors • Material factors • Moral elements • Force Multiplier

28. Fundamental ideas • Individuals affecting events

29. Fundamental ideas • Relationship between offense and defense • Defense more powerful, but negative • Offense weaker, but positive

30. Fundamental ideas • Specific concepts • Friction • Genius • Center of gravity • Culminating point • Fog • Importance of chance

31. 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

32. The Reception of Clausewitz • In Britain • In America • Politics not relevant to military strategy • Then Vietnam • Weinberger Doctrine • Powell Doctrine • Clinton Doctrine

33. Previous theorists • Sun Tzu • Machiavelli • Vauban • Jomini

34. 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

35. Previous theorists • Machiavelli • Vauban

36. Later theorists • Jomini • The Germans • The French • The U.S.

37. 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

38. Criticisms • General • Michael Howard • John Keegan • Martin van Creveld

39. Legacies • Read by • Marx, Engel, Lenin • Never read by • Grant, Lincoln

40. Fundamental Problems • Finding the right level of sophistication • The danger of politicizing military institutions • Gauging the “unpredictability” of war

41. Issues for Consideration • War as continuation of politics • Characterizing War • The Trinity • Culminating Point • Center of Gravity

42. 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

43. Issues for Consideration • Characterizing War • Nature of war? • Measurable elements • Time, distance • Immeasurable elements • Troop morale, commander’s skills • Theory of war

44. Issues for Consideration • The Trinity • Reflects the changed conditions • Composition • Mirror image

45. Issues for Consideration • Culminating Point • Demonstrated in Russia? • Napoleon in Spain? • Today? • Applicable to levels of war? • Value

46. Issues for Consideration • Center of Gravity • Definition • Critical vulnerability? • Definition • Difference?

47. Issues for Consideration • Questions? • War as continuation of politics • Characterizing War • The Trinity • Culminating Point • Center of Gravity

48. 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

49. 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.”