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Clausewitz’s views on the Transformation of War, Politics and Society—An Analysis with reference to the Wars in the 19th and 20th Centuries
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by MAJ Foo Kong Pin Gilbert


Modern day theories on war fighting are filled with ideas that technology and changes determine battling capacities of the military and the war itself. But Clausewitz claimed that the changes in war were less a function of technology or shifts in ideas and more due to the involvement of society in the conduct of war. This article looked into Clausewitz’s claim that war did not change much due to inventions or innovations in technology and strategies, but rather due to the transformation of society. This article aimed to establish that this transformation of society was time-dependent, had a psychological basis and tended to be the centre to which ‘inventions or new departures in ideas’ take hold of first, before making any significant impact on the manifestations in war.

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MAJ Foo Kong Pin Gilbert is currently Head Data Centre, Headquarters Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Explosives Defence Group (HQ CBRE DG).  A Field Engineer Officer by vocation, he was formerly WSO (CBRE) in General Staff (Development), Systems Integration Office.

MAJ Gilbert is a recipient of the SAF Local Study Award (Combat) and SAF Postgraduate Scholarship. He graduated from the University of Melbourne with a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry (First Class Honours), a Master of Science in Defence Technology and Systems from National University of Singapore, and a Master of Science in Operations Research from the US Naval Postgraduate School.

MAJ Gilbert is also a distinguished graduate from the Combined 44th Command and Staff Course, and a pioneer recipient of the Graduate Diploma in Organisational Leadership, through GKS CSC's partnership with the Singapore Workforce Development Agency.

Last updated on 12 Jan 2015
 
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