The Nature of War in the Information Age: Clausewitzian FutureThere has been a great deal of speculation recently concerning the likely impact of the 'Information Age' on warfare. In this vein, much of the Revolution in Military Affairs (RMA) literature subscribes to the idea that the Information Age will witness a transformation in the very nature of war. In this book, David Lonsdale puts that notion to the test. Using a range of contexts, the book sets out to look at whether the classical Clausewitzian theory of the nature of war will retain its validity in this new age. The analysis covers the character of the future battlespace, the function of command, and the much-hyped concept of Strategic Information Warfare. Finally, the book broadens its perspective to examine the nature of 'Information Power' and its implications for geopolitics. Through an assessment of both historical and contemporary case studies (including the events following September 11 and the recent war in Iraq), the author concludes that although the future will see many changes to the conduct of warfare, the nature of war, as given theoretical form by Clausewitz, will remain essentially unchanged. |
Contents
Introduction | 1 |
Classical Strategic Thought and the Nature of War | 19 |
The Future Battlespace | 49 |
Future Command and the Fate of Military Genius | 109 |
How Strategic is Strategic Information Warfare? | 135 |
Strategy Geopolitics | 179 |
A Clausewitzian Future | 201 |
237 | |
263 | |
Other editions - View all
The Nature of War in the Information Age: Clausewitzian Future David J. Lonsdale Limited preview - 2004 |
The Nature of War in the Information Age: Clausewitzian Future David J. Lonsdale Limited preview - 2004 |
The Nature of War in the Information Age: Clausewitzian Future David J. Lonsdale Limited preview - 2004 |
Common terms and phrases
Air Power airpower Army Arquilla and David Arquilla and Ronfeldt assets Athena's Camp attack battle battlefield battlespace Bomber bombing campaign chapter Clausewitz Clausewitzian Colin combat concept conflict Creveld cyberspace Cyberwar decisive Defence destruction dimension of strategy doctrine elements Eliot Cohen emphasis enemy enemy's environment example factors fifth dimension firepower fog of war friction future geography geopolitical Gray ground forces Gulf Gulf War Ibid identified important information age information dominance information power Information Warfare infosphere Infrastructure intelligence Iraqi John Arquilla Joint Vision 2020 Jomini Kosovo levels Libicki London Modern Strategy nature of warfare notes nuclear operations organisations Oxford paradoxical logic physical political potential RMA force RMA literature role Schwartau significant strategic bombing Strategic Studies Sun Tzu tactical targets terrain theorists theory tion Toffler Tzu's uncertainty University Press utilisation Vegetius victory Vietnam violence vulnerability waged Warfighting weapons Williamson Murray Winn Schwartau World