ABSTRACT
These words, written approximately 2500 years ago by the Chinese general and theorist Sun Tzu, provide a simple but convincing impetus for academic study on the subject of war. Despite this persuasive call to intellectual arms, the study of war in its broader context remained undeveloped for much of history. Until the second half of the twentieth century the study of war had been largely restricted to the military. This, with a few notable exceptions (Clausewitz being the prime example), understandably led to a focus on tactical and operational issues and the development of principles for success. Military scholars and practitioners tended to focus on getting the job done, rather than ruminating over war in its broader context. Thus, in the realm of military practice it is rare to find serious study on the nature of war and its relationship to the other aspects of human sociopolitical activities.
