Ethics and Military Strategy in the 21st Century : Moving Beyond Clausewitz - Jr., George  Lucas

Ethics and Military Strategy in the 21st Century

Moving Beyond Clausewitz

By: Jr., George Lucas

Paperback | 26 July 2019

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This book argues that ethics play a central role in strategy in modern armed conflict.

While the overall conceptual approach of Clausewitz to the political strategy of war survives intact, the tactical features have been altered dramatically, and now rely on descriptive metaphors which resemble the strange and decidedly anti-intuitive features of relativity and quantum mechanics. The role of ethics - or rather, its classical omission from playing a role - in armed conflict has likewise been transformed. This book relies heavily on the analogy between the fate of classical Newtonian physics in the contemporary age of relativistic quantum mechanics, and that of conventional Clausewitzian military strategy in the age of disruptive innovation brought about by "irregular," technological, and digital warfare. Ethics, in particular, is now at the center, rather than the periphery, of contemporary military strategy, not because today's warriors or political leaders are somehow more "morally sensitive" than their early modern predecessors, so much as because moral concerns themselves lie at the center of postmodern warfare and its strategic objectives.

In this altered context of armed conflict, the author argues that "ethics" and the perceived "moral high ground" play a central role in charting a path to victory and successful resolution of the conflict. Far from disqualifying or disadvantaging the side that favors and acquiesces to such concerns, the perception of adherence to strict moral standards of professional decorum, properly understood, is essential to "winning the hearts and minds" of populations conflicted by armed conflict and military strife. In the highly charged and decidedly unconventional political atmosphere that is contemporary armed conflict, that is to say, "ethics" is absolutely inseparable, indeed indistinguishable, from sound strategy. These are among the surprising lessons that are illustrated, from a number of perspectives and case-studies, in this book.

This book will be of much interest to students of just war, ethics, military strategy, and international relations.

 

Industry Reviews

'George Lucas has done a timely and superb analysis of ongoing dramatic changes in warfare and the associated effects this is having on the role of ethics for strategic leaders. He describes how emerging domains of war in space and cyber not only raise new ethical challenges but also expand their complexity dramatically at the same time bringing ethical and moral choice to the center of decision making in war. This should be read carefully by senior political and military leaders and will be invaluable to professional military development around the globe.'- Col. Jeff McCausland, Dean (ret), U.S. Army War College and Former Director of the National Security Council Staff, USA.

'This volume is an excellent and sorely needed contribution to the discussion of ethics, Just War and strategy, looking at Clausewitz with fresh eyes as well as considering how recent Revisionist discussions and ideas in Just War apply to post-modern warfare. That Lucas is able to bring these three elements together with relevant and concrete case studies and examples makes this a must read for scholars and practitioners alike.'-- Pauline Shanks Kaurin, VADM Stockdale Professor of Ethics, U.S. Naval War College

'George Lucas's brilliant new book offers a novel and eclectic "theory of just war theory" and much more. Its nuanced reading of Clausewitz, insightful contextualization of revisionist claims, deep understanding of technology, and timely appeal to classical wisdom make for a unique and urgently needed contribution to the ethics of war.'-Col. James L. Cook, Chairman of the Department of Philosophy, U.S. Air Force Academy

'An insightful and timely contribution to the debate about how the Just War Tradition relates to the conflicts of today and the future.' - David Whetham, Director of King's Centre for Military Ethics, King's College London

'In Ethics and Military Strategy in the 21st Century: Moving Beyond Clausewitz, George Lucas systematically makes the case for what many of us have sensed intuitively -- changes in the nature of modern warfare have made ethics a key strategic concern. Humanitarian interventions, irregular warfare, and hybrid warfare are no longer exceptional cases, but instead typify the sorts of conflicts American forces will be asked to fight in the future. Such missions will be unwinnable without a commitment to ethical action -- an "inconvenient truth" that will put more pressure on individual service personnel to understand the ethical implications of their individual actions in the context of mission demands. Eminently readable, this is just the sort of book we need right now.'--Valerie Morkevicius, Associate Professor of Political Science, Colgate University

'With the publication of Ethics and Military Strategy in the 21st Century, Lucas will arguably change how combatants, strategists, and academicians re-think the future of war.'--Edward Erwin, Journal of Military Ethics, January 2021

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