By the end of this lecture we should have some understanding of: what war’s nature is what forms war takes what strategy is and who creates it what constrains it

1. War, Strategy and National Power
Professor Joel Hayward

2. At the end of this lecture we should have some understanding of:
 what war’s nature is
 what forms war takes
 what strategy is and who creates it
 what constrains it

6. Antoine Henri Jomini
1779-1869
Thoughts on the
Art of War, 1838
Broad observations:
• War is controlled violence fought
according to unchanging
principles
• Actions and reactions are
highly predictable
• The contest is primarily about
physical strength and methodical
maneuver
• Mathematics and geometrics
matter more than instinct, chance
and luck

7. Carl von Clausewitz
1780-1831
On War, 1832
Broad observations:
• War is a clash of wills
• Its essence is “Schlacht”
• It is best avoided if the enemy will
submit for other reasons
• War is an art, not a science
• Actions and reactions are
unpredictable
• “Fog of War” and “Friction”
permeate everything

8. Clausewitz
On War:
“War is a continuation of politics by other means”

9. A clarification:
“War is a continuation of politics by other means”
“ … eine Fortsetzung des politischen Verkehrs … ”
“ … a continuation of political dialogue … ”
Dialogue = two-way discourse, a conversation

10. An American Understanding of the instruments of political discourse
(“elements of national power”):
• Diplomatic = negotiations, political recognition, treaties,
alliances
• Informational (psychological) = shaping the media, influencing
attitudes, building “consent”, propaganda
• Military = posture, presence, threat, deterrence, coercion, force
• Economic = inducements, investment, subsidies, loans, foreign
aid, embargoes, sanctions
DIME:

11. Sanctions Lethal Violence
Threats Sanctions Propaganda
Diplomatic engagement
Diplomatic engagement
Cutting of diplomatic ties
Mediation
Mediation
Bargaining
Level of tension

12. Sanctions Lethal Violence
Threats Sanctions Propaganda
Diplomatic engagement
Diplomatic engagement
Cutting of diplomatic ties
Mediation
Mediation
Bargaining
Level of tension
WAR

13. War refers to distinguishable groups using organised lethal violence
against each other as part of a dialogue to achieve political
objectives

14. Clausewitz’s “Remarkable Trinity”
WAR
War always creates tensions between
the three dynamic forces involved

15. “Primordial violence, hatred and
enmity: a blind natural force”
“The play of chance and
probability within which the
creative spirit is free to
roam”
“Subordination to politics,
which makes it subject to
reason”
WAR

16. WAR
VIOLENT
EMOTION
CHANCE +
INSTINCT
RATIONAL
THOUGHT

17. WAR
THE
PEOPLE
THE
COMMANDER
AND FORCE
THE
GOVERNMENT

18. THE
PEOPLE
THE
COMMANDER
AND FORCE
THE
GOVERNMENT
THE
PEOPLE
THE
GOVERNMENT
THE
COMMANDER
AND FORCE

19. THE
PEOPLE
THE
COMMANDER
AND FORCE
THE
GOVERNMENT
THE
PEOPLE
THE
GOVERNMENT
THE
COMMANDER
AND FORCE

25. THE
PEOPLE
THE
COMMANDER
AND FORCE
THE
GOVERNMENT
THE
PEOPLE
THE
GOVERNMENT
THE
COMMANDER
AND FORCE

26. THE
PEOPLE
THE
COMMANDER
AND FORCE
THE
GOVERNMENT
THE
PEOPLE
THE
GOVERNMENT
THE
COMMANDER
AND FORCE
Air Power’s traditional focus

28. What exactly is strategy?
• Strategos (στρατηγός) = a general
• Therefore strategy was originally the thoughts
and action of generals

29. • In the modern western world politicians have authority over, and
control of, generals
• Nowadays both create strategies

30. Political Objectives
National Strategy
Supporting Strategies
Diplomatic Strategy
Informational Strategy
Military Strategy
Economic Strategy
Politicians
Generals and
other senior
military officers

31. Level
of
violence
needed
Level of political will needed
The Spectrum of Conflict:

32. Level
of
violence
needed
Level of political will needed
Thermonuclear War
Global Conventional War
Major Theatre War
Regional Conflict
Counter-insurgency
Armed Intervention
Punitive Strikes
Show of Force
Peace Enforcement
Counter-narcotics
Peace-keeping
Aid to the Civil Power
Humanitarian Assistance
Disaster Relief
The Spectrum of Conflict:

33. Level
of
violence
needed
Level of political will needed
Thermonuclear War
Global Conventional War
Major Theatre War
Regional Conflict
Counter-insurgency
Armed Intervention
Punitive Strikes
Show of Force
Peace Enforcement
Counter-narcotics
Peace-keeping
Aid to the Civil Power
Humanitarian Assistance
Disaster Relief
The Spectrum of Conflict:
--------------------
------------
Peace
War

34. Constraints on war:
• Political Will
• Public expectations
• Morality
• International pressures

35. Conclusions:
• War is the worst of human group activities
• It is always a political act
• Politicians are its creator and master
• They can seldom make war without constraints and never without
the consent of the people

36. Thank you