Essential Elements in a Theory of War.

摘要

War is a very complex phenomena involving every component of a nation-state; its people, its government, and in particular, its Armed Forces. As such, all of these components experience the effects of war and they are all responsible for the conduct and outcome of it. Consequently, for a theory of war to be effective and comprehensive, it must address the concerns of each of these participants. To accomplish this, the author argues that a theory of war should include the following essential elements: (1) the nature of war, (2) the medium in which war takes place, and (3) the levels of war. These elements should be understood by all, but especially by the military commander, in whose realm (the battlefield) war is ultimately decided.