Discussion Questions
Questions for Chapters and 1, 2, and 18:
1. What is history? Define history. What is the historian's task? What is historiography? Is history a science? Is history an art? Explain. Delineate the major problems in writing history. What does an understanding of history and historiography tell us about humanity about ourselves? Who are the authors of the books used in this class? Given their backgrounds what problems might they have in writing an accurate narrative, and explanation for events?
2. What is war? What are the causes of war? Is man by nature warlike? Is it possible to end war? What is Hobbes' thesis on human nature? Do you agree or disagree with his thesis? What is Rousseau's thesis on human nature? Do you agree or disagree with his thesis?
3. Who was Carl von Clausewitz? Delineate the five tenets of Clausewitz. Explain his concept of the total and limited war? World War II was the most total war in human history. Why? Explain Clausewitz' thesis of the "remarkable trinity." According to Clausewitz how do you win a war? Explain Clausewitz' thesis on "friction," "the center of gravity," and the "culmination point." Explain Clausewitz discussion on the levels of war.
4 What is policy? What are political objectives? What is strategy? How are policy and strategy related?
5. What is doctrine? What is the relationship between technology and doctrine? What were the most significant technological and doctrinal developments in the conduct of war in the twentieth century? How does doctrine influence strategy?
6. Trace the evolution of military technology from the Civil War to World War II. Using technology explain the outcome of the Civil War, World War I, and World War II. How did technological developments influence the conduct and outcome of the war?
7. How did the relationship between technology and doctrine change after World War II? Why?
8. What are "Joint Operations?" What are "Combined Operations?" Delineate the problems involved in conducting joint and combined operations.
10. Who was the father of modern strategic bombing doctrine? What exactly was his thesis on the role of the bomber in modern warfare? How did the British, Americans incorporate air doctrine into their practices of war? Why did the British and Americans adopt strategic bombing doctrine, and why did the Germans fail to adopt it? Which air doctrine was most effective? Why?
11. Who was the father of modern naval warfare doctrine? What was thesis on naval power? Is it still valid today? If so, why? If not, why?
12. Who are John Shy and Edward Coffman? What are their theses on the American way of war? Characterize and describe the traditional American Way of War. How did the American way of war influence the U.S. conduct in the post-World War II period?
13. What is a state? What is a nation? Can a state fight total war? Can a nation fight total war?
14. What resources are required to achieve "superpower" status? What makes the United States a superpower? What made the Soviet Union a superpower?
15. Civilian control of the military is a major tenet of the American, constitutional democracy. How did the founding fathers seek to insure civilian control of the armed forces? Are the measures they put into place still operative today? What changes have taken place to strengthen the system of civilian control? What are the repercussions of these changes? Does the system impede the ability of the United States to successfully fight war?