steve on Nostr: “War from the Ground Up: Twenty-First-Century Combat as Politics” by Emile ...
“War from the Ground Up: Twenty-First-Century Combat as Politics” by Emile Simpson
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Military theorists have pontificated on the nature and purpose of war for centuries, if not millennia. Clausewitz’ famously quote, “war is politics by other means” still holds merit today. Emile Simpson, a former British infantry officer with experience in Helmand Province, wrote this book to expand on the Clausewitzian interpretation of war and update the discussion for contemporary irregular warfare. Simpson argues that there are two purposes for war: 1️⃣ to reach a political end state and 2️⃣ to leverage force as a form of political communication. He argues that violence itself is a language and the act of applying violence is subsequently communication. Simpson’s interpretation of war’s intricacies builds on Clausewitz’ foundational work in an impressively nuanced way. His constructivist take has important implications to strategists and planners alike. He stresses importance of enemy perspectives when assessing one’s own strategy, describing armed conflicts as a “trial” where each side has their own judge. His characterization of irregular warfare as simply “armed domestic politics” is also noteworthy for its implications as the US reflects on its Global War on Terror. This book is a perfect companion to Clausewitz’ “On War” and should be read shortly after ol’ Dead Carl’s foundational treatise on the subject. 🗣️⚔️
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Military theorists have pontificated on the nature and purpose of war for centuries, if not millennia. Clausewitz’ famously quote, “war is politics by other means” still holds merit today. Emile Simpson, a former British infantry officer with experience in Helmand Province, wrote this book to expand on the Clausewitzian interpretation of war and update the discussion for contemporary irregular warfare. Simpson argues that there are two purposes for war: 1️⃣ to reach a political end state and 2️⃣ to leverage force as a form of political communication. He argues that violence itself is a language and the act of applying violence is subsequently communication. Simpson’s interpretation of war’s intricacies builds on Clausewitz’ foundational work in an impressively nuanced way. His constructivist take has important implications to strategists and planners alike. He stresses importance of enemy perspectives when assessing one’s own strategy, describing armed conflicts as a “trial” where each side has their own judge. His characterization of irregular warfare as simply “armed domestic politics” is also noteworthy for its implications as the US reflects on its Global War on Terror. This book is a perfect companion to Clausewitz’ “On War” and should be read shortly after ol’ Dead Carl’s foundational treatise on the subject. 🗣️⚔️