Theory

Question 1

Maclean, Norman

Young Men and Fire

Answer 1

History-Theory-Doctrine
• Theory provides framework or basis from which to critically think.
• Confirmationbias-It’shardtoadmityou’rewrong.
• There are indicators something is wrong before a crisis.
• This is an example of critical inquiry leading to a discovery of the causes and consequences of systems failure.

Question 2

Thucydides History of the Peloponnesian War

Answer 2

The strongest motives are Fear, Honor, and Interest
• The question of “right” only exists between equals in power. The
strong do what they can, and the weak suffer what they must.
• “It is a common mistake in going to war to begin at the wrong end, to act first, and wait for disaster to discuss the matter.”

Question 3

Rosenau Thinking Theory Thoroughly

Answer 3

• “Of what is this (phenomenon) an instance?“
• Is this a descriptive (OE, problem frames) or prescriptive
(solution frame, COA) problem?
• “Acquire not a set of skills, but rather a set of pre-dispositions, a cluster of habits, a way of thinking, a mental lifestyle. . .“
•EmpiricalTheorydealswiththe“is”ofinternationalphenomena, with things as they are if and when subjected to observation.
•ValueTheorydealswiththe“ought”ofinternationalphenomena.
•Discoverorder,sacrificedetailedforbroad,readytobewrong

Question 4

Waltz The Man, the State, and War

Answer 4

• Image 1: cause of war is in the nature of man Realist Perspective: Human nature fixed; domestic and inter-national violence are byproducts of human existence, mitigated only by the fear of overwhelming coercive authority
• Image 2: cause of war in the nature of the state
• External war can produce internal unity
• Internal order maintained through arbitration, law, monopoly on force. Domestic features define the character of the state
• Image 3: cause of war in the anarchic nature of international politic
• War is caused by International Anarchy – no overarching coercive power to prevent war
• War is a result of anarchy (no overarching authority to resolve disputes over interests)

Question 5

Berger Social Construction of Reality

Answer 5

Reality is both objective and subjective • InternalProcess
– Externalization : Things happen outside myself
– Objectification: Perception
– Internalization: Interpretation
– Crystallization: What I see matches what outside sees
• Group Process
– Institutionalization: Everyone agrees
– Socialization: Assign values
– Legitimatization: Explaining and justifying reality

Question 6

Clausewitz On War

Answer 6

Three Kinds of war:
– Pure war – logical extreme that cannot exist in the real world
– Absolute war – War in which the aim is to overthrow the enemy and render him helpless against your will. Political and military wills combine for total victory (Napoleon)
– Real war – All wars that do not reach the level of absolute war all real wars are limited by the political aim
– Total war is not of Clausewitz

Question 7

Politics

Answer 7

Politics: two or more actors in a contestation over interests(Kubiak)

Question 8

Policy

Answer 8

Politics: two or more actors in a contestation over interests(Kubiak)

Question 9

Strategy

Answer 9

Requires aim/end and means, emergent from the dialogue between operational artist and politician
(Strachan)

Question 10

Operational Art

Answer 10

Has two separate but interrelated activities: dialogue/negotiation between policy-maker and
operational artist over ends and means (from which strategy emerges), and a plan/directing ways/tactical action