DID CLAUSEWITZ OVERLOOK TECHNOLOGY?

REVISITING THE THEORY OF WAR IN THE AGE OF CONTEMPORARY WARFARE

Abstract

Did Clausewitz Overlook Technology? The Relevance of Classical Theory in Contemporary Conflicts. This article examines the absence of technology in Carl von Clausewitz’s theory of war and its applicability to contemporary conflicts. Through a historical analysis of modern warfare generations – from mass armies in the 17th century to 21st-century cyber warfare – the study debates whether the classical theory, formulated in the post-Napoleonic context, remains valid to explain phenomena such as hybrid warfare, cyber conflicts, and asymmetric
engagements. Drawing on Michael Handel’s (1989) proposal to include
technology as a fourth pillar of the Clausewitzian trinity, the research
questions whether the nature of war has undergone radical transformations
or adapted to technological innovations without losing its political essence.
Critiques from scholars like Mary Kaldor (2013) and Martin van Creveld
(1991), who argue for Clausewitz’s obsolescence in the face of non-state
actors and deterritorialized conflicts, are critically examined. The conclusion asserts that while technology has reshaped military tactics and tools, the trinity (people, government, armed forces) retains its explanatory power, provided it is reinterpreted in light of new strategic challenges. The paper contributes to Strategic Studies by bridging classical theory and 21st-
century dynamics, reaffirming politics as the core driver of conflicts, even in technologically complex scenarios.