Table of Contents
What did Carl von Clausewitz note in his famous dictum about war?
He came to the conclusion that there were in fact two types of war, total (or absolute) and limited, and that it was, above all, political aims and requirements that imposed themselves on war and dictated its intensity—hence his famous dictum, “War is a continuation of state policy with the admixture of other means.” …
What did Clausewitz say?
In what he called a “logical fantasy,” war cannot be waged in a limited way: the rules of competition will force participants to use all means at their disposal to achieve victory. But in the real world, he said, such rigid logic is unrealistic and dangerous.
Why is von Clausewitz important?
2. Why is he so famous? Clausewitz’s fame is largely due to the importance and influence of his magnum opus, On War, unquestionably the most important single work ever written on the theory of warfare and of strategy, although both the book and its impact have been interpreted and misinterpreted in wildly varying ways.
What is limited war Clausewitz?
This new concept of limited war was explicitly based on the principle, drawn from Clausewitz, that the conduct of war should be scrupulously disciplined by overall political considerations, so that war will be an effective instrument of policy rather than an instrument of maximum destruction.
What does Clausewitz say about total war?
Clausewitz states that “…it follows that he who uses force unsparingly; without reference to bloodshed involved, must obtain a superiority if his adversary uses less vigour in [the] application [of force].” Therefore, war in its most logical form would involve each state continually reciprocating each other’s use of …
Is Clausewitz relevant in the 21st century?
In a contemporary context, this philosophy is very much relevant. Clausewitz’s philosophies are as relevant in the 21st century as they were in in the 18th and 19th centuries.
Who said the fog of war?
Clausewitz
Fog of war is often attributed to Clausewitz, but is in fact a paraphrase of what he said: ‘War is the realm of uncertainty; three quarters of the factors on which action in war is based are wrapped in a fog of greater or lesser uncertainty.
Is von Clausewitz still relevant today?
In a contemporary context, this philosophy is very much relevant. Clausewitz’s philosophies are as relevant in the 21st century as they were in in the 18th and 19th centuries. Perhaps one can argue that they are more relevant today due to the complexi es associated with warfare.
What is the difference between Sun Tzu and Clausewitz?
One apparent difference between the two thinkers is that Clausewitz tends to focus more on the “lower” tactical levels of war, while Sun Tzu also incorporates the “higher” strategic levels of war into his theory (Handel, 2005, p.
Why did Clausewitz write on war?
Purpose, goal and means. Clausewitz analyzed the conflicts of his time along the line of the categories Purpose, Goal and Means. He reasoned that the Purpose of war is one’s will to be enforced, which is determined by politics. The Goal of the conflict is therefore to defeat the opponent in order to exact the Purpose.
Was Clausewitz a realist?
Clausewitz is often referred to as a realist, mainly because of his famous dictum that ‘war is the continuation of politics by other means’. 50 War is therefore regarded as a necessary and legitimate feature of interstate relations.
What is a good example of the fog of war?
Buoys contain map information and so when destroyed or not present act as a rudimentary fog of war. On maps where there is no fog of war, players can see what opponents are doing at any time. The player sometimes encounters message bottles that clear away fog of war on the map to reveal hidden ports.
Would Sun Tzu agree with Clausewitz?
17 We can clearly see Clausewitz’s start point of strategy making; in Sun Tzu’s view, this is the third order solution—that of eliminating the enemy’s armed forces. Clausewitz would likely agree with Sun Tzu that where possible, the ideal victory of subjugating the enemy without fighting should be sought.
Is Clausewitz’s dictum about war wrong?
The dictum is nevertheless quite wrong. Wars are fought for a reason. Clausewitz wrote, “When whole communities go to war…the reason always lies in some political situation, and the occasion is always due to some political object.”
Can Clausewitz explain the past and the future?
In Brodie’s view, a careful teaching of Clausewitz can explain “our failures in the past, at the same time there is hope that taking our principles to heart can prevent such debacles in the future.” Harry G. Summers was even clearer that Clausewitz can be used not only to explain the past, but to shape the future.
How well do you know Clausewitz?
The military writings of Clausewitz, known to even casual readers today, were then virtually unknown except to his devoted wife and a small group of leading military thinkers.
Is there any systematic study comparable to Clausewitz?
Nonetheless, there is no systematic study comparable to that of Clausewitz. Clausewitz expressed a modest hope that his book would not be forgotten after two or three years and that it “might be picked up more than once by those who are interested in the subject.” [2] Reading Clausewitz after almost two centuries – is it worth it?