The Nature of War in the Information Age: Clausewitzian Future

by Lonsdale,David J.

• ISBN13: 9780714655468
• ISBN10: 0714655465
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2004-07-21
• Publisher: Routledge

Summary

There has been a great deal of speculation recently concerning the likely impact of the 'Information Age' on warfare. In this vein, much of the Revolution in Military Affairs (RMA) literature subscribes to the idea that the Information Age will witness a transformation in the very nature of war. In this book, David Lonsdale puts that notion to the test. Using a range of contexts, the book sets out to look at whether the classical Clausewitzian theory of the nature of war will retain its validity in this new age. The analysis covers the character of the future battlespace, the function of command, and the much-hyped concept of Strategic Information Warfare. Finally, the book broadens its perspective to examine the nature of 'Information Power' and its implications for geopolitics. Through an assessment of both historical and contemporary case studies (including the events following September 11 and the recent war in Iraq), the author concludes that although the future will see many changes to theconduct of warfare, the nature of war, as given theoretical form by Clausewitz, will remain essentially unchanged.

Author Biography

David J. Lonsdale is lecturer in international relations at the University of Reading, UK.

Table of Contents

Series Editor's Preface	viii
Acknowledgements	xi
List of Abbreviations	xiii
Introduction	1	(18)
1. Classical Strategic Thought and the Nature of War	19	(30)
2. The Future Battlespace	49	(60)
3. Future Command and the Fate of Military Genius	109	(26)
4. How Strategic is Strategic Information Warfare?	135	(44)
5. Information Power: Strategy, Geopolitics and the Fifth Dimension	179	(22)
6. Concluding Thoughts: A Clausewitzian Future	201	(36)
Bibliography	237	(26)
Index	263