Clausewitz and Contemporary War

✍ Scribed by Antulio Joseph Echevarria

• Publisher: Oxford University Press
• Year: 2007
• Tongue: English
• Leaves: 219
• Category: Library

✦ Synopsis

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.

✦ Table of Contents

Cover
......Page 1
Title Page......Page 4
Copyright......Page 5
Contents......Page 8
Acknowledgments......Page 9
Introduction......Page 10
Notes

......Page 17
Part I
On War’s Purpose and Method......Page 22
1. A Search for Objective Knowledge......Page 30
2. Validating Concepts and Principles......Page 46
Part II The Nature and Universe ofWar......Page 64
3. War Is More than a Chameleon......Page 70
4. Policy, Politics, and Political Determinism......Page 93
5. Genius, Giving the Rule to Art......Page 111
Part III Strategy, Balancing Purpose and Means......Page 134
6. Combat,War’s only Means......Page 142
7. Principles of Strategy......Page 163
8. Center of Gravity......Page 186
Conclusion......Page 200
Selected Bibliography......Page 208
Index......Page 218