Military theory
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Military theory is the study of the
normative behavioral phenomena and explanatory causal aspects to better understand war and how it is fought.[1] It examines war and trends in warfare beyond simply describing events in military history.[2] While military theories may employ the scientific method, theory differs from military science. Theory aims to explain the causes for military victory and produce guidance on how war should be waged and won,[3]
rather than developing universal, immutable laws which can bound the physical act of warfare or codifying empirical data, such as weapon effects, platform operating ranges, consumption rates and target information, to aid military planning.
Military theory is multi-disciplinary drawing on
jus in bello. Two of the earliest military philosophers date from antiquity; Thucydides and Sun Tzu.[5][6] While military theory can inform military doctrine or help explain military history, it differs from them as it contemplates abstract concepts, themes, principles and ideas to formulate solutions to actual and potential problems concerning war and warfare.[7]
Use of military theory
Prussian military theorist Carl von Clausewitz wrote,
'The primary purpose of any theory is to clarify concepts and ideas that have become, as it were, confused and entangled. Not until terms and concepts have been defined can one hope to make any progress in examining the questions clearly and simply and expect the reader to share one's views.'[8]
Military theory informs the political, strategic, operational and tactical levels of war.space power or astronautics.[14]
See also
References
Notes
- ISBN 9780203080726.)
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link - ISBN 9780312532406.
- ^ Angstrom and Wider. Contemporary Military Theory. pp. 8–9.
- JSTOR 45083282.
- ISBN 978-1-60384-805-3.
- ISBN 978-0-8133-3085-3.
- ^ Angstrom and Wider. Contemporary Military Theory. pp. 4–6.
- ISBN 9780691018546.
- ISBN 9780199579662.
- ^ Evans, Michael (2004). "The Continental School of Strategy: The Past, Present and Future of Land Power" (PDF). Australian Army Research Centre. pp. 17–9. Retrieved 9 August 2023.
- ISBN 9781990644245.
- ISBN 1584872330.
- ^ Vego, Milan (2011). "On Military Theory". Joint Force Quarterly. 3 (62): 59–67. ProQuest 877014867.
- ^ Evans, Michael. The Continental School of Strategy. pp. 10–11.
Bibliography
- Angstrom, Jan and Widen, J.J. (2015) Contemporary Military Theory: The Dynamics of War. New York: Routledge. ISBN 978-0-203-08072-6
- Clausewitz, Carl von (1976). On War. Edited and translated by ISBN 0-691-05657-9.
- Evans, Michael, (2004), Land Warfare Studies Centre Study Paper No. 305, The Continental School of Strategy: The Past, Present and Future of Land Power, Canberra: Land Warfare Studies Centre. ISBN 0642296014.
- Gray, Colin S. (2010). The Strategy Bridge-Theory for Practice. Oxford: Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-957966-2
- Lider, Julian (1980). 'Introduction to Military Theory', Cooperation and Conflict, XV, 151–168.
- Lider, Julian (1983). Military Theory: Concept, Structure and Problems (1st ed.). New York: Palgrave Macmillan. ISBN 978-0-312-53240-6
- Oliviero, Charles. (2022) Strategia – A Primer on Theory and Strategy for Students of War. Toronto: Double Dagger. ISBN 978-1-990644-24-5
- Sun Tzu (2003). The Art of War. New York City: Barnes & Noble Books. ISBN 978-1-59308-016-7.
- Vego, Milan (2011). 'On Military Theory', Joint Force Quarterly, Vol. 3, Issue 62, pp. 59–67.
- Yarger, Harry R. (2006). Strategic Theory for the 21st Century: The Little Book on Big Strategy. Leavenworth: US Army War College War College Press. ISBN 1-58487-233-0
External links
Media related to Military theory at Wikimedia Commons
