Center of Gravity: What Clausewitz Really Meant
Abstract
The Armed Forces have come a long way in understanding centers of gravity and critical vulnerabilities. The former are equated to strength, the latter to weakness. As stated in "The Joint Staff Officer's Guide," multiple centers of gravity may exist on a given level of warfare and change during a campaign, sometimes unexpectedly when an enemy shifts the weight of its attack, thus uncovering an new center of gravity. Nevertheless, ambiguities abound. That same publication contains the following statement: "Centers of gravity are the characteristics, capabilities, or locations from which a military force derives its freedom of action, physical strength, or will to fight. On the strategic level, centers of gravity might include a military force, an alliance, a set of critical capabilities or functions, or national strategy itself." According to this definition, a military force cannot be a center of gravity, yet it is cited as an example. It also presents a choice among characteristic, capability, or location, when in reality all three exist simultaneously in mutual dependency. A force operating in a given location is ineffective without essential characteristics and capabilities. Moreover, the use of terms such as "foundation of capability," "hub of all power and movement," and "dominant characteristics" is ambiguous enough. And worse, they are invariably accompanied by an expansive list of examples that include alliances, communities of interest, public opinion, and "national strategy itself." Clausewitzian centers of gravity are not characteristics, capabilities, or locations. They are dynamic and powerful physical and moral agents of action or influence with certain qualities and capabilities that derive their benefit from a given location or terrain. Further analysis is required to clearly define the relationship between centers of gravity and critical vulnerabilities, thus enabling planners to better focus sources of power on developing successful campaigns.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 2004
- Accession Number
- ADA520980
Entities
People
- Joseph L. Strange
- Richard Iron
Organizations
- Marine Corps War College