Political Theory 101 Clausewitz (w/Elizabeth Dearden-Williams)
Nov 20, 2024
Elizabeth Dearden-Williams, a Cambridge graduate pursuing her master's, dives into the fascinating world of Carl von Clausewitz. They tackle the intricate relationship between war and politics, using insights from contemporary conflicts like Ukraine. The conversation highlights how public opinion shapes military actions and the challenges of unity in diverse societies facing existential threats. They also explore historical military theories impacting modern American foreign policy and analyze the Cuban Missile Crisis through a game theory lens, revealing the unpredictable nature of strategy.
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Putin’s War Narratives
- Putin uses different narratives about the Ukraine war depending on his audience.
- He appeals to existential threats when addressing Russians but cites limited objectives to Western audiences.
The Fog of War Motivations
- Discerning a state’s true war motivations is difficult because leaders manipulate narratives to influence public support.
- Clausewitz highlights the interplay of political, economic, social, and military factors in understanding war.
Clausewitz and Propaganda
- Political leaders use Clausewitz’s insights to frame war narratives, making it hard to discern true intentions.
- The Bush administration’s shifting Iraq War justifications exemplify this, from WMDs to democracy promotion to loyalty arguments.
