The The Relevance of Clausewitz’s On War to Contemporary Conflict Situations

Abstract

For more than 190 years, On War by Carl von Clausewitz has been used as a core text in various institutions, particularly those related to military studies. Drawing on his extensive battlefield experience, Clausewitz offers clear explanations of the diverse conditions of war. A thorough reading of his work reveals that the essential ideas in each chapter continue to provide insight into the causes and key developments of contemporary conflicts. Although the book analyzes war from the eighteenth to the early nineteenth century—and has therefore often been regarded as relevant only to conflicts between major states—more than two decades of evolving international security challenges, including interstate tensions, political warfare, and terrorism, have prompted younger scholars to view On War as an artifact of the past. As interstate conflicts appear to decline and the boundary between state and non-state actors becomes increasingly blurred, many readers question the contemporary relevance of Clausewitz’s theories. For instance, in confronting non-state adversaries such as terrorist groups—as seen in the United States’ declaration of the “War on Terror”—one may ask how the “government” component of Clausewitz’s Trinity of War can be identified.

Today, debates continue to revolve around the transformation of warfare—whether from state to non-state conflict, or from changes in the methods and means used in war. Scholars have revisited Clausewitz’s perspective on the nature of war, including the question of whether war itself changes over time. Critics often argue that On War does not address alternative forms of warfare, focusing mainly on interstate war. This raises the issue of whether smaller-scale or irregular conflicts are encompassed within Clausewitz’s theoretical framework. Furthermore, reinterpretations of his ideas illustrate the extent to which On War connects to various forms of contemporary warfare, linking back to the core principle that war is the continuation of politics by other means—not limited to interactions between states alone. Clausewitz’s triad of motivation, opportunity, and rationality has been widely discussed, though overly narrow interpretations risk undermining the validity of these concepts. A deeper reading demonstrates that these elements should not be viewed in isolation or as hierarchical constructs.

Ultimately, On War remains a vital reference for those seeking to understand the complex social phenomena of war and conflict. The work is rich with ideas applicable to modern strategic thought, but it must be read—and reread—carefully to grasp its full meaning. This article does not attempt to compare contemporary conflicts with historical ones; rather, it evaluates the content of On War and related scholarly literature to enhance our understanding of present-day conflict dynamics.