East Meets West: A Combined Approach to Studying War and Strategy in the 21st Century.

摘要

In a world with no true balance of power, where the United States, a unipolar military power, dominates the world stage, it can be argued that all future wars involving the United States will be asymmetrical. If the irregular, unconventional, and asymmetric are today's convention, the United States needs to reexamine and broaden its familiarly with components from both the Western and Eastern schools of war theory. Throughout its history, the United States has relied largely on Western, European-based war theories (specifically, Clausewitz, and to a lesser extent, Jomini) for the foundations of its war strategy. Components of these Western theories are still important to the strategist. These theories do not, however, focus adequate attention on the unconventional small war operations the nation faces now and will face in the future. This paper examines two Western theories of war in light of the new world situation, examining both their enduring concepts as well as their shortcomings in today's globalized landscape. It further examines the current (and future) world landscapes and how these changed and changing landscapes make it critical to reexamine how the United States views and studies strategy and war. Finally, it examines the applicability of Sun Tzu's writings, which are essential to a 21st century understanding of war. It proposes that our unconventional world requires a holistic, unconventional, and indirect approach to war theory. While there is still value in a study of the Western masters, the study and application of Sun Tzu should also be a primary focus to strategists and planners. To be well-armed for today's security threats, the modern strategist must be well-versed in both the relevant concepts from the Western classics and the enduring flexibility offered by Sun Tzu.