The position and role of strategy in Clausewitz's concept of the dual nature of war

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The position and role of strategy in Clausewitz's concept of the dual nature of war

Milinko S. Vračar

In recent decades, the transformation of war has become one of the most important issues in strategic studies, especially in the context of changes in the way wars are conducted. To explain these changes, theorists in the field most often rely on Clausewitz’s concept of the dual nature of war as an analytical model. This concept highlights the constant and unchanging essence of war, present in every conflict, while also emphasizing its evolving aspect, referred to as the character of war. When analyzing the transformation of war and warfare, theorists frequently view strategy as a variable feature of war, associated with its character. In doing so, they unjustifiably overlook the fact that strategy is also part of its unchanging nature. Even when strategy is viewed as part of the character of war, a more detailed explanation of what makes it variable, specifically, which factors drive its changes, is frequently missing. Therefore, the subject of research in this paper is strategy as an integral part of the nature and character of war, while the scientific goal is the description of the elements of the internal and external structure of war, as well as the explanation of their interactions, since it is through them that the place and role of strategy within the dual nature of war is determined.

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