Operational Art and the Human Dimension of Warfare in the 21st Century.
Abstract
The end of the Cold War and the transition to the information age have combined to foster a climate of radical change within the American military. This paper examines the relationship between the physical and moral elements of military power as information technology is adapted to military use. Power is a function of will and means. "Will" represents the incalculable and essentially unchanging moral factors that permeate the conduct of war and make it unpredictable. This human dimension of warfare is its central, defining characteristic. Because war is based on human interaction it is more art than science. "Means," the physical factors of war, are in a period of revolutionary change. New technology and related new models for organizational behavior portend a "revolution in military affairs" that enthusiasts suggest is changing even the very nature of war. But while new technology may exponentially improve the tools of war, it will not eliminate the fog of war or quantify the moral factors. A survey of emerging service specific and joint warfighting concepts highlights the danger of an over-reliance on technological superiority and "the American way of war" against 21st century foes. We must adapt the new technology of the information age to the operational art so as to obtain its benefits without losing sight of the human dimension.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Feb 05, 1999
- Accession Number
- ADA363177
Entities
People
- David W. Coffman
Organizations
- Naval War College