Carl von Clausewitz apologist for imperialist aggression or military genius?

[Dialectical Wizard]

Carl von Clausewitz apologist for imperialist aggression or military genius?

I’ve always had an interest for political theorists like Clausewitz, Sun Tzu or Machiavelli.
Historical figures that some people would describe as “political masterminds”.
I don’t think we should dismiss some of their theories, just because we don’t like what they stand for. We should use those strategies to our advantage as much as possible.

[Per Levy]

Carl von Clausewitz apologist for imperialist aggression or military genius?

why cant he be both? more then anything clausewitz is historical figure who is long dead an i think the military has changed quite a bit since clausewitz times, so i doubt that his military insights are that usefull nowadays anyway.

[GiantMonkeyMan]

why cant he be both? more then anything clausewitz is historical figure who is long dead an i think the military has changed quite a bit since clausewitz times, so i doubt that his military insights are that usefull nowadays anyway.
I agree that he's both. However my sister, who is in the army, picked up one of Clausewitz's main books as a piece of 'recommended reading' upon doing her officer training. I'm assuming that, while most actual tactics used by modern armies are different, some of the tenants about logistics, overall strategy and discipline remain relevant, sort of like Sun Tzu. His focus on the political aspect of war is also relevant to modern armies as the political nature of contemporary war is so apparent to people.

[Dialectical Wizard]

why cant he be both? more then anything clausewitz is historical figure who is long dead an i think the military has changed quite a bit since clausewitz times, so i doubt that his military insights are that usefull nowadays anyway.


is the use of capital letters considered bourgeois?

His magnum opus Vom Kriege is still taught in military academies all over the world…

[Ritzy Cat]

of course their theories could be considered, but they would not at all be relevant in an evolved socialist society because all imperialist tendencies will disappear. they are military geniuses and offered a lot of great info to the warmongerers of our great world.