War terms and arguments!!

What are Coady’s definitions of violence about? (Wide definitions, restricted definitions, and legitimist definitions)

Wide definitions - Structural violence, includes social injustices that limit opportunity! JOHAN GULTUNG

Restricted definitions - Physical harm to people or property (Clear, neutral, less politically loaded = most useful) COADY’S FAVOURITE!

Legitimist definitions - Force used illegally or unjustly (Excludes the state or police which is incredibly politically biased)

Why’re wide definitions of violence poor?

They allow reformers to say they’re working to ‘eliminate violence!’

What’re some Clausewitz terms?

‘War knows no bounds’ - leads to absolute war, you’re both forced to your extremes

War: Aims, object and means!

What is Clausewitz’s ultimate aim of war?

To disarm the enemy completely

How do you disarm your enemy completely according to Clausewitz?

destroy armed forces, occupy the country, then break your enemy’s will

aim vs object?

the political objective (or purpose) is the why—the underlying political goal—while the military aim is the what—the specific military action required to achieve that goal.

What is friction? (Also clausewitz)

The accumulation of countless small difficulties like delays, mistakes or miscommunications

What was Clausewitz’s conclusions on war theory? (the role of genius, moral strength?)

War can’t be reduced to formulas or theories - It’s shaped by dynamic living forces

Role of genius - Good commanders need to combine knowledge w/ intuition - Must act in the moment! Theory can only guide reflection.

Moral strength - Discipline and willpower determine outcomes beyond strategy and weaponry.

Clausewitz’s final emphasis?

War is not a mechanical silence - It’s a human endeavor tied to politics, chance, and the nature of conflict.

“War is an act of force to compel our enemy to do our will.” How does means, aim and object fit into this sentence?

Force = Means

Will = Aim (Ultimate goal, political)

Compulsion = Object (How you’re going to achieve your aim)

What’re the five factors of sun tzu?

The Tao: Make people follow their leader

Heaven: Weathers/seasons

Earth: Terrain
The generals: Wisdom and virtues

The laws: encompass organization and military regulations

What does Sun Tzu say about war?

It’s inevitable!

“Warfare is the greatest affair of state, the basis of life and death. The way to survival or extinction…”

What does Brodie Bernard say about nuclear weapons and deterrence?

Deterrence only works if the adversary believes retaliation will occur!

The material capability (military means) matters, but the perception of material capability matters just as much.

What’s a secure second strike capability? Why is it essential?

The ability to strike back after a nuclear attack! If either side thinks it can destroy the other’s retaliatory forces in the first strike, then deterrence doesn’t work anymore.

e.g. protect submarine missiles, dispersed forces and hardened silos!

Why must deterrence be stable?

Has to be super expensive and difficult to disarm - needs to withstand surprise!

What’s the paradox of deterrence?

Nuclear weapons are weapons we can never use! They’re so valuable because they’re used to avert war and not wage it

What’s the sun tzu attack plan?

Plans → alliances → Army → fortified city

What is total war? (Brodie) What is limited war?

Total - Everything is on the table, all means are being used

Limited - Intentional restraint on the means