On War

Carl von Clausewitz, a commander of Prussia, wrote On War in the 19th century. Military commanders and war historians have long studied it because it is one of the most important books on military strategy. War is described there by Clausewitz as "an act of violence intended to compel our opponent to fulfill our will." He contends that as war is just politics in another form, it must take into account the same political factors as all other forms of statecraft. In addition, Clausewitz addresses the nature of violence, how chance and uncertainty play a part in battle, and the significance of leadership and morale. He claims that there is no one recipe for victory in war and that it is a complicated and unpredictable event. The work On War is difficult and intricate, yet it is also satisfying. Clausewitz's theories on the nature of war are still relevant today, and military experts and academics all around the globe continue to study his writings.