ABSTRACT
In his classical work On War, the Prussian General Carl von Clausewitz made his famous dictum on war as a continuation of politics by other means. He also identified the three fundamental aspects of modern war: reason – expressed through its subordination to politics; ‘chance and probability’ – best mastered by the creative genius of the military commander; and ‘primordial violence, hatred and enmity’ – reflecting the people and its passions. The difficulty of balancing these incompatible forces against each other was what made war dangerous and risky, and the successful war leader worthy of admiration. Clearly, there is a correspondence between this Clausewitzean triad and the three themes that have been the focal points of the present book. The cold rationality of strategic thought represents the statesman’s perspective. At the level of operational planning and organizational rivalry the creative genius of the military leader will be required. At the tactical level, in the midst of battle, the culturally conditioned emotions of fighting men seem to be the most influential force at play.1
