Understanding War : Essays on Clausewitz and the History of Military Power

These essays provide an authoritative introduction to Carl von Clausewitz and enlarge the history of war by joining it to the history of ideas and institutions and linking it with intellectual biography. Reflecting Peter Paret's three decades of study of Clausewitz and of the history of war, they examine Clausewitz's theoretical work in the context of his time and in relation to war as a general historical phenomenon. Although the analytical strength of On War makes it far more than a historical document, Clausewitz's ideas and the methods he employed to express, develop, and test them become clearer when his work is seen against a historical background. The first six essays analyze military power in European history and discuss the transformation of war at the end of the eighteenth century. They provide the historical setting for the following nine essays, which address significant aspects of Clausewitz s life and thought, from the logic of his theories to his aesthetics and his reactions to the revolutions of 1830. The concluding essay examines the history of war as a scholarly discipline. Together these pieces shed new light on Clausewitz, on the age in which he lived, and on his theories, which retain a timeless interest Militærhistorie; Krigshistorie; Krigskunst; Krigsledelse; Krigsmagter; Krigsteorier; Krigsprincipper; Principper for Krig; Krigsførelse; Military Power; Clausewitz; Napoleon; Napoleonskrigene; Amerikanske Uafhængighedskrig; Revolutionskrigene; Scharnhorst; von Ranke; von Moltke; Frederik den Store; Frederick William III; Prøjsen; Preussien; Gneisenau; Savout; Delbrück; Bernadotte; von Bülow; Jomini; von Humboldt; Franske Revolution; Montesquieu Includes essays that provide an introduction to Carl von Clausewitz and enlarge the history of war by joining it to the history of ideas and institutions and linking it with intellectual biography. Essays der analyserer den militære magt i Europa op til slutningen af det 18. århundrede og sætter focus på Carl von Clausewitz' liv og militære teorier ARMED FORCES are employed not only for war and the threat of war, whether for purposes of aggression or defense. Peter Paret. Includes Bibliographical References And Index.