The Principles of War - Lessons from Military History on Strategy, Tactics, Doctrine and Leadership. 22 - Centre of Gravity Analysis with COL Dale Eikmeier
Sep 23, 2018
COL Dale Eikmeier, a renowned expert on the center of gravity concept in military strategy, discusses its relevance in complex systems. He highlights the importance of shared goals among multiple actors and how the concept applies beyond the military realm, including foreign policy. Eikmeier also delves into moral centers of gravity and their strategic implications. The conversation explores the evolution of joint military planning, considering technological advancements and a whole-of-government approach to strategy, while pondering how the center of gravity may transform over the next two decades.
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CoG Beyond Adversaries
- Centers of gravity (CoG) exist both in adversarial and non-adversarial systems based on their purpose and means.
- In conflict, understanding both friendly and enemy CoGs helps identify vulnerabilities and plan attacks or defenses effectively.
CoG with Multiple Actors
- Multiple actors with shared goals may share a center of gravity, but divergent goals require separate analyses.
- Centers of gravity evolve; forcing an adversary to adjust theirs can weaken their effectiveness over time.
Insurgencies Have Dual CoGs
- Insurgencies often have two Centers of Gravity: a political wing and a militant wing with distinct methods.
- Sinn Féin represents the political wing, while the IRA is the violent arm, each with separate centers of gravity.