The concept of old war evolved alongside the creation of the state system, originated from the Peace of Westphalia in 1648. Even though the development of modern state grew slowly at first, Westphalia has been a turning point in laying the foundation for a Europe of territorial states. The delineation of boundaries helped the dichotomy of internal/external, being the root of classical definition of old war.
1.1 Clausewitz theory
Carl von Clausewitz , influenced by the campaigns of Frederick the Great and Napoleon, produced a systematic and philosophical examination of war in his unfinished work “On War”. Chapter 1 of his first book provides a comprehensive examination of what war is. He defined war as “nothing but a duel on an extensive scale… an act of force intended to compel our opponent to fulfil our will,’ directed by political motives and morality ”. While force is the mean of war, its aim to make the enemy powerless in order for him to fulfil our will. According to his theory, war implies the maximum use of force and there is no space for errors coming from kindness, because war is hostile intentions-driven. Clausewitz had taken a very realistic approach in affirming that civilization has done nothing but improve the means of war. His opera is a cold, hard manual of what war is, without any intentions of embellishing it. All the elements enlisted above can be referred to the idea of classical war, which is an ideological or geopolitical war conducted by the official military …show more content…
The necessity to redefine the concept of war results from the changing nature of warfare in the last decades. Many of the characteristics attached to the idea of classical war, no longer suit the latest events. Rethinking war should not be a mere exercise of semantic, but it should laid the foundation for the development of new counter
1.1 Clausewitz theory
Carl von Clausewitz , influenced by the campaigns of Frederick the Great and Napoleon, produced a systematic and philosophical examination of war in his unfinished work “On War”. Chapter 1 of his first book provides a comprehensive examination of what war is. He defined war as “nothing but a duel on an extensive scale… an act of force intended to compel our opponent to fulfil our will,’ directed by political motives and morality ”. While force is the mean of war, its aim to make the enemy powerless in order for him to fulfil our will. According to his theory, war implies the maximum use of force and there is no space for errors coming from kindness, because war is hostile intentions-driven. Clausewitz had taken a very realistic approach in affirming that civilization has done nothing but improve the means of war. His opera is a cold, hard manual of what war is, without any intentions of embellishing it. All the elements enlisted above can be referred to the idea of classical war, which is an ideological or geopolitical war conducted by the official military …show more content…
The necessity to redefine the concept of war results from the changing nature of warfare in the last decades. Many of the characteristics attached to the idea of classical war, no longer suit the latest events. Rethinking war should not be a mere exercise of semantic, but it should laid the foundation for the development of new counter