Schools of Strategic Thought
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Transcript Schools of Strategic Thought
Theory of War Capsule: Part II
Schools of Strategic Thought
Schools of Strategic Thought
Continental School.
Maritime School.
Aerospace School.
Revolutionary School.
– Guerrilla war.
– Rural Insurgency.
– Urban Insurgency.
– Terrorism.
Continental School
Chanakya/Kautilya - 325 BC
Sun-tzu - 300 BC
Clausewitz - 1780 - 1831 AD
Jomini - 1779 - 1869 AD
Liddle Hart - 1895 - 1970 AD
KAUTILYA
Arthashastra
Balance of Power (Mandala Concept)
Theory of Expanding Empires
Concept of Territorial Defence
On Principles of Statecraft
– Sama
– Dana
– Bheda
– Danda
– Maya
– Upeksha
– Indrajal
:
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:
:
:
:
:
Negotiations
Reward
Divide
Punishment
Deceit, Treachery
Ignore
Psy war, Deception
On Philosophy of War
– Last resort
– Continuation of State Policy
– Use High Strategy to Sap the Enemy’s
Morale (Psy War)
– Emphasis on Trg of Armed Forces
– Stress on Selection of Ground for diff Mil Ops
– Thoughts on Org & Conduct of Covert Wars
– Imp of Int and Espionage
Sun Tzu
War is nothing but a continuation of Political
intercourse with an admixture of other means.
War is a matter of vital imp to the State - hence
importance of proper study of the subject.
Destroy the enemy’s army without engaging it.
Take his cities without laying siege.
If war is inevitable :– Win in shortest possible time.
– At least cost in terms of lives, resources & effort.
– With infliction of least casualties on the en.
Effect of war on economy
Shape the enemy.
On Deception.
– When capable, feign incapacity.
– When near, make it appear as if you are far.
– Move as a ghost in starlight.
Know the mind of the en Cdr.
Avoid prolonged campaign.
Withdraw offensively.
Weather & Terrain.
Flexible tactics.
National unity.
Clausewitz
War is a continuation of State policy.
Viewed war as an art.
Strategic triad of Govt, military & people.
Synergy between political & military leaders.
Theories on conduct of war – Theory as a
Guide.
Jomini
Views similar to Clausewitz.
Both were influenced by the exploits of
Napoleon.
While Clausewitz was philosophical, Jomini
was more doctrinaire.
Tried to derive a framework of rules for the
conduct of war.
Liddel Hart
Indirect approach.
Formulated principles on which modern
mobile warfare would be fought.
Concepts studied by German General
Staff=> Blitzkrieg.
Foresaw implications of nuclear wpns.
Continental School
Oldest school – most applicable presently in
our context.
Theories shaped by the way wars were
fought – to capture & retain territory. Req
defeat & annihilation of en mil forces.
Continental School
Main Charactersitics:
– Wars revolved around clash of massed armies.
– Modern interpretation:
AF & Navy essentially exist to sp the land battle.
Also the crux of existing “turf battles”.
Continental School
Applicability to modern Wars:
– Continues to be applicable with modifications.
– AF & Navy have roles besides sp of land battle.
Req is for jt application of avl mil force for max
synergy.
Maritime School
Alfred T Mahan - 1890
Sir Julian Corbett - 1910
Maritime School
Alfred Mahan
– Influenced by Jomini.
– Big navies with overseas bases for power
projection => Command of the sea through
decisive encounters.
– Impact of maritime power on economics.
– Factors affecting dev of maritime power, incl
geographical position, extent of territory etc.
– Failed to appreciate effect of sub-surface
warfare, and airpower.
Maritime School
Sir Julian Corbett
– Theater specific sea control (“Control of
passage & Communication”).
– Weaker fleet to remain in existence by avoiding
encounters.
– Impact of sub-surface warfare and airpower not
factored.
Maritime School
Covers exploitation of the sea medium in peace &
war.
Historically concepts understood even before
formal theories put up.
– Ancient Roman fleet.
– Maritime capabilities of colonial powers:
Spain
Portugal
France
Britain
Only school of strategic thought that operates
under geographical constraints (Mahan).
Applicability to modern war (by syndicate)
Aerospace School
Douhet - 1873 - 1930 AD
Mitchell - 1878 - 1936 AD
Trenchard - 1873 - 1956 AD
Col John Warden USAF
Aerospace School
Wars can be won by air power alone (D)
Air power could make protracted wars obsolete (D)
Command of the air (D)
Emp of air power (T & M) :- Primary : centers of pop & industry
- Secondary : in sp of army
Creation of air force as an independent service
(D, T & M)
Five ring theory of Col Warden.
Applicability to modern war (by syndicate)
Revolutionary School
Guerrilla warfare.
Rural Insurgency.
Urban Insurgency.
Terrorism.
Revolutionary School
Revolutionary War. Process that involves
the forcible overthrow of a Govt, or an
attempt to do so with the purpose of
destroying an existing society and its
institutions, and replacing them with a
completely new structure.
Revolutionary war occurs within the state,
whereas, a conventional war is essentially
an external phenomenon.
Revolutionary School
Necessary ingredients:
– Popular sp.
– Organisation.
– Cohesion.
– External sp.
– Environment.
– Effectiveness of the victim Govt.
Revolutionary School
Marx :
– Urban centric communist revolutionary warfare.
Polarisation of society due economic disparity =>
violent overthrow of the elite.
Applicable to Industralised nations.
Lenin:
– Modified framework to fit conditions prevailing in
Russia. Urban centric.
Focus on political aspects.
Revolutionary School
Mao Tse Tung:
– Combined both pol & mil aspects.
– Modified to rural base to suit China.
Small core of ‘believers’.
Pol indoctrination of expanding cadre.
Expand ambit to guerrilla warfare against Govt
forces, encompassing pol, social & economic fields.
End state: Total takeover of the Govt. Control of
the country.
Revolutionary School
Vo Nguen Giap:
– Modified Mao’s theories to suit conditions
peculiar to Vietnam to overthrow the French
sponsored Vietnamese Govt.
– Emphasized transition from guerrilla warfare
to conventional warfare in final stages.
– Greater focus on international sit, & outside sp.
Revolutionary School
Che Guevara:
– Modification of Mao’s theories:
Revolutionary sit can be created.
Pol aspects take precedence over mil
aspects.
Advocated use of suburban guerrilla activity.
Revolutionary School
Applicability to modern warfare:
– Insurgency & terrorism applicable:
International System. Greater voice,
reduction in sovereignty of individual states.
Can pass moral judgment, and even
intervene (Kosovo).
Involvement by neighbouring States.
Terrain / Geography. Shift towards urban
areas.
Indian Philosophy of War
No expansionist thought – self sufficiency.
Non-aggressive attitude – tolerant.
Defensive in nature – reactive.
Non-alignment (?)
Peaceful co-existence – Panchsheel.
Defensive strategy.
Indian Philosophy of War
External Perceptions
1994 Rand Corpn study – India potential future
threat:
– Ancient civilization & stable democracy.
– Only country to have created another country by use of
force since WW II.
– Agro Industry – overtaken USA in milk production.
– Will dominate computer field with 30% share.
– Ability to act – Maldives.
– INDIANS HAVE FAITH IN EVERYBODY EXCEPT
THEMSELVES.
Col Warden’s Five Ring Theory
En Command
Essential Production
Tpt network
Popular Sp
Fielded Mil Forces