As western civilization evolved from a pre-industrial to an industrial society, social and technological changes transformed the structure and modus operandi of political, economic, and military institutions. With the dawning of the 21st century...
Since the end of the Cold War stability and support operations represent the majority of U. S. Army deployments. The writers of the Army’s capstone manual, FM 100-5, Operations, grapple with replacing the 1993 version with a comprehensive...
The age of reductionism is over, new laws of physics are being discovered, and the old theoretical constructs are being replaced with new understanding. The modern operating environment in common with the world of physics has changed. This change,...
Self-synchronization is an idea that comes directly from Network-Centric Warfare but its foundations lie in complexity theory and the ideas of self-organization and emergent behavior. In order to understand self-synchronization the basics of...
Operational design is an intellectual exercise that draws on the creative vision, experience, intuition, and judgment of commanders to provide a framework for development of detailed operation plans. Recently, a number of authors have questioned...
From the Classical Period until the Seventeenth century, the study of warfare was practiced predominantly using the vehicle of history. The scientific revolution, ushered in by Newtonian laws, had a major impact on Western military thinking. By...
The examination of land warfare within the conceptual framework of complex adaptive system (CAS) theory and fourth generation war (4GW) theory offers a unique perspective and provides valuable insight into optimal capabilities and characteristics...
Surrendering the Initiative?: C2 on the Digitized Battlefield. Captain Jim Dunivan, U.S. Army; On the battlefield leaders make decisions in the midst of great uncertainty, demonstrating adaptability, independence, and creativity as they plan...
This monograph examines the complexity of the Army's current digital systems. Currently the Army has an ever growing number of digital systems. These digital systems are supposedly designed to increase our Soldiers' efficiency and ability to...
The Military Decision Making Process (MDMP) is the U.S. Army’s single analytical process used to assist the commander and staff in developing estimates and plans for military problem solving. A growing body of research and published works within...
Military operations are complex and chaotic phenomena. Current theoretical models inadequately deal with the increasing complexity and inherent uncertainty of modern warfare. Relying on mechanistic paradigms and reductionist methods of analysis,...
This thesis examines the application of the principles of chaos and complexity theory to the analysis of ethnic conflict. In the post cold war era, the United States continues to become entangled in ethnic quagmires throughout the world. However,...
One of the most complex challenges facing the U.S. military today is the problem of imposing stability over the chaos that follows major combat operations. Despite the U.S. military’s predilection to distill warfare into the linear, Newtonian...
The explanation to the phenomenon of how a military unit, which seemingly on the verge of annihilation, still manages to survive and fight effectively, lies in the understanding that a military organization is a living system. Recognizing the...
This thesis adopts the adversary's perspective to consider the revolution in military affairs, thereby breaking free of the intellectual constraints imposed by the American paradigm of warfare, doctrine and force structure. The adversary's need to...
This monograph examines the question can modern metaphors, based on late twentieth century nonlinear scientific thought, better explain concepts described by Clausewitz, using early nineteenth century linear scientific thought. Clausewitz...
In both historical and contemporary practice of operational art the concept of balance appears to be of significant consideration. We are instructed in FM 100-5, for instance, to "" ... throw the enemy off balance .... "" (p , 27) The histories of...
This monograph shows how understanding three conceptual tradeoffs of complex versus complicated, complexity at large-scale versus fine-scale, and exploration of potential problems versus exploitation of known solutions can help the military...
Battle Command Auftragstaktik and Innere Fuhrung: Trademarks of German Leadership. Major General Werner Widder, German Army Battle Command . Major General Russel L. Honore, U.S. Army Battle Command and Visualization. Lieutenant Colonel...
This study examines the impact of current and developing digital information systems on battalion commanders' ability to make decisions during combat operations. The All Source Analysis System (ASAS) and Force XXI Battle Command Brigade and Below...