Essential Elements in a Theory of War

Abstract

War is a very complex phenomena involving every component of a nation-state; its people, its government, and in particular, its Armed Forces. As such, all of these components experience the effects of war and they are all responsible for the conduct and outcome of it. Consequently, for a theory of war to be effective and comprehensive, it must address the concerns of each of these participants. To accomplish this, the author argues that a theory of war should include the following essential elements: (1) the nature of war, (2) the medium in which war takes place, and (3) the levels of war. These elements should be understood by all, but especially by the military commander, in whose realm (the battlefield) war is ultimately decided.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jan 01, 1991
Accession Number
ADA437645

Entities

People

  • Jaime Vazquez

Organizations

  • National War College

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Readers

  • Military History / Militaries and War Studies
  • Military and Counterinsurgency Studies.