revistaieee7

Journal of the Spanish Institute for Strategic Studies Núm. 7 / 2016
This has led one to question the current validity of the general principles
identified in armed conflicts throughout history; in other words,
the fundamentals of the theory on war that have controlled the organization,
preparation, and equipment of armies in the past.
This article intends to analyze the persistence of the nature of war in
its traditional concept, within the context of the COIN paradigm, as
the form of conflict that prevails presently. To do so, the theory of war
of the famous Prussian philosopher Carl von Clausewitz, published in
his major work On War, has been used as a basis for this study. Written
during the first half of the 19th century, in light of his experiences and
reflections about the Napoleonic campaigns, it is still a required reference
for all studies regarding the nature of war. This theory is analyzed
in view of the basic principles of today’s predominant adversary: insurgency,
with COIN as the strategy to combat it.
The hypothesis for the development of this analysis is that war, in the
sense of the struggle between the will of two adversaries to prevail,
through the use of force, has intrinsic principles and a logic that are
identifiable and can also be extended to the dynamics which are characteristic
of a COIN struggle. The analysis undertaken will lead to
the development of conclusions regarding the degree of applicability
of the premises characteristic of a theory of war, such as the one of the
famous Clausewitz in the struggle against insurgency and, with it, if
the theory of the brilliant Prussian is still valid in a COIN context. In
short, whether the death certificate of the famous Prussian should be
issued, or he is still alive and in good health.
KeyWords
Counterinsurgency (COIN), Clausewitz, war theory, asymmetric warfare,
global insurgency.
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