Analysis Of Carl Von Clausewitz's On War

Throughout history theorists tried to capture all aspects of warfare, propose new ways and means to apply the conceptions, and even conjecture how best to terminate wars. Carl Von Clausewitz in his masterpiece ‘On War’ conceptualized the nature of war on land and linked relationship between warfare and politics in concise ideals. The visionary theorist Giulio Douhet shifted the view of war in 1921 when he published The Command of the Air, where he introduced war through the concepts of airpower. This essay aims to contrast the theories of Clausewitz’s conception of land warfare with Douhet’s conception of air warfare because the characteristics and environmental end states changed with the introduction of airpower.

Most military theorists of the 17th century believed the

Airpower inevitably changed the characteristics and the environment for outcome of wars. Theorists contend that war results from drastic changes in the international security environment, diplomacy, domestic politics, ideology, economics, and revolutionary advances in technology. Clausewitz emphasized, “Each period would have hold to its own theory”. Douhet wrote, "Victory smiles upon those who anticipate the changes in the character of war, not upon those who wait to adapt themselves after the changes occur." Airpower technology changed everything. Airpower can exploit speed, range, and flexibility better than land and sea forces. War may be the realm of chance, as Clausewitz advises but victory or defeat are not recorded as random outcomes. “There is an approach to war that maximizes the prospect of the achievement of decisive victory (whatever outcome one decides is sufficiently decisive and adequately victorious).” As warfare expands to new domains, it must continue to look back at military theory to develop effective