Who is Afraid of Carl von Clausewitz by Handel

Ref: Michael Handel (1997). Who is Afraid of Carl von Clausewitz? A Guide to the Perplexed, 6th Edition. Retrieved from: https://www.clausewitz.com/readings/Handel/Handlart.htm

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Summary­

  • Warfare according to Carl Von Clausewitz.

  • Military activity is never directed against material force alone; it is always aimed simultaneously at the moral forces which give it life, and the two cannot be separated.

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War

  • How Wars are Limited

    • Insufficient or limited resources.

    • The set of limitations that the political leadership imposes on the wartime objectives as defined by the national interests.

  • How War Escalates

    • A side uses the maximal force.

    • A side aims to disarm the enemy (zero sum warfare).

    • A side exerts maximal strength including the intangible factors, or non-material force multipliers (moral forces).

  • How War Ends

    • The enemy is defeated; unable to carry on the struggle.

    • Victory is improbable.

    • The cost is unacceptable.

  • The Capacity of a Nation to Wage War; dependent on three factors (tendencies)

    • People: Examine their motivation, dedication, and support of their government.

    • Military: Ask how good their leaders are, whether they obey government orders, and whether they develop suitable doctrines and are well organized.

    • Government: It is wise to investigate how rational or realistic its policies are, and how effective it would be in mobilizing the peoples support for a prolonged war.

  • Trinity: The non-material/non-tangible factors of warfare including policy, organization, and motivation and include 1) people: passion, 2) military: probability and chance victory, and 3) government and their objectives and rational calculations.

  • Principle of Continuity: In theory, war is fought without interruption until one of the sides is victorious. The reasoning is as follows- if one side has achieved an advantage he must or should exploit it until he wins.

    • The asymmetry or inherent differences between the offense and defense combined with poor intelligence thus explain why the principle of continuity is ignored in reality.  

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