Luttwak Repurposed: Peacetime Application of Relational Maneuver
Abstract
The United States has operational shortfalls in the Indo-Pacific, creating a significant disadvantage if competition with China trends to conflict. The shortfalls exist in both capacity, as U.S. shipbuilding has failed to keep pace with Chinese production leading to a lack of numerical parity, and capability as China has exceeded U.S capabilities in range for maritime weapon systems. China has demonstrated vulnerability related to its geographic position in relation to middle-powers in the Indo-Pacific, undersea operations and susceptibility for nonattributional irregular warfare. This paper explores the potential of utilizing relational maneuver, a concept forwarded by Edward Luttwak to exploit enemy vulnerabilities, in peacetime operations during great power competition. The paper will explain the potential of exploiting Chinas vulnerabilities in geographic position related to middle powers, undersea operations and irregular warfare. This these makes recommendations to the Department of Defenses budgetary process for individual service components with the intent to use U.S. Navy funding, while decreasing U.S. Army funding, over the next decade to strengthen national security and the international rules based order.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 07, 2022
- Accession Number
- AD1176649
Entities
People
- Brian J Mawyer
Organizations
- Naval War College