Clausewitz Reconsidered

by H. P. Willmott, Michael B. Barrett

Overview

This fascinating book assesses Prussian military thinker Carl von Clausewitz's famous theory on warfare in relation to historical and modern-day conflict—and future trends.

Carl von Clausewitz's On War is arguably the most important single work ever written on the theory of warfare and military strategy. In Clausewitz Reconsidered, two prominent military historians assess his theories, examining their viability at a time when asymmetric warfare and "war" conducted by and against nonstate actors is increasingly common and state control often ephemeral.

The basis of the book's analysis is an examination of war over the last four centuries, since the Thirty Years' War, including the Cold War and subsequent conflicts. What is discovered is that war is far more endemic and brutal today than when Clausewitz tried to explain it. This volume explores that paradox and shows that if anything, we can anticipate further uncontrolled violence. The authors conclude that Clausewitz and On War have assumed a status akin to holy writ, but are obviously dated. The aim of Clausewitz Reconsidered is to bring the master's theories up to date, providing the current generation with a new basis for thought and analysis.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780313362767
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Academic
Publication date:	11/25/2009
Series:	Praeger Security International
Pages:	248
Product dimensions:	6.30(w) x 9.30(h) x 1.10(d)

About the Author

Hedley Willmott is one of the foremost military historians in England, having taught at the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst, for two decades, as well as at the U.S. National War College, the University of Memphis, Temple University, and The Citadel.

Michael Barrett is a professor of history at The Citadel, Charleston, SC, retired brigadier general in the U.S. Army Reserve, and author of Operation Albion: The German Conquest of the Baltic Islands.

Table of Contents

Preface and Acknowledgments
Book I On Clausewitz and Vom Kriege
Chapter 1 The Clausewitzian Context: The Modern Era
Chapter 2 The Clausewitzian Context: War and the Westphalian System
Chapter 3 The Clausewitzian Context: War and the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars
Chapter 4 The Clausewitzian Context: An Aside
Book II War and Wars since Clausewitz: Total War and Systems
Chapter 1 From Total War to Total War: 1815–1918
Chapter 2 From Total War to Total War: 1931–1975
Chapter 3 When Real Hatreds Were Suspended: The Cold War, 1945–1989
Book III War and Wars since Clausewitz: Naval and Air Power
Chapter 1 Mahan and Corbett Reconsidered: 1890–2003
Chapter 2 Air Power and Two World Wars
Chapter 3 Douhet Reconsidered: (1) Inside-Out Warfare and 1991
Chapter 4 Douhet Reconsidered: (2) Doctrine and the Kosovo Campaign, 1999
Book IV War and Wars since the End of the Cold War
Chapter 1 The End of the Cold War
Chapter 2 The Developing Countries and the Re-emergence of Other Wars
Book V On the Nature and Conduct of War
Chapter 1 The Nature of War, the Conduct of War, and Basic Definitions
Chapter 2 To the Present Time: The Offensive and Defensive and the Vernichtungsschlacht
Chapter 3 The Illusion of Certainty
Chapter 4 The Approach of Absolute War
Book VI Conclusion
Chapter 1 To the Gods Belongs Tomorrow
Notes
Bibliography
Index