Clausewitz’s military theory in relation to recent years

Abstract

Carl von Clausewitz’s military theory came into being at the beginning of the 19th century
and has continued to serve as a guideline in the subject of warfare ever since. Being
a determining factor of military thinking, interpreting the primordial and omnipresent
theses in the history of military operation is an integral part of Hungarian war science. This
study aims to summarise chief elements of Clausewitz’s oeuvre and their relevance in recent
alternating military affairs. It provides an outline of Clausewitz’s thesis on military
thinking, the relationship between practice and theory and the governing forces of armed
combat. Based on the above mentioned elements, Clausewitz approaches a strategic debate on
warfare and determines a double layer of military thinking in contemporary military issues.
This essay attests to understand Clausewitz’s work in relation to current circumstances of
Hungarian military science and theoretical research.