This week @GeorgetownCSS we review foundational texts on Chinese strategic thinking -- Sun Tzu, Sun Bin, and others. But how heavily do these texts weigh on China's military, compared to, say, Clausewitz? Is there value in comparing 🇺🇸 and 🇨🇳 strategic culture in 2020? (1/6)
Eurocentrism in IR and security studies programs has penetrated global military thinking, in ways I don't think Western academics appreciate.
Why do we assume Sun Tzu matters more to China's (modern) strategic thought than Western military strategists? (2/6)
Why do we assume Sun Tzu matters more to China's (modern) strategic thought than Western military strategists? (2/6)
If you read through papers by Chinese military officers, it's clear Clausewitz is nearly as foundational for the PLA as he is for the U.S. services.
Still, these 123 academic papers might not be representative of broader Chinese military thinking (3/6):
Still, these 123 academic papers might not be representative of broader Chinese military thinking (3/6):
For a more systematic (un-academic) approach, let's count the number of Google search results for strategists mentioned in PLA Daily.
Sun Tzu is up there, but he's edged out by Napoleon, and Clausewitz is mentioned about half as often. Even Mahan gets attention (4/6).
Sun Tzu is up there, but he's edged out by Napoleon, and Clausewitz is mentioned about half as often. Even Mahan gets attention (4/6).
What about the concepts some of these folks are famous for? Clausewitz' "fog of war" is hands down the most-cited of these seven ideas, picked at random. And for all the English-language debate about whether we are headed for a Thucydides Trap, the PLA is weighing in, too (5/6).
It is a good thing we're diversifying reading lists. I'm glad we're reading the Art of War & others.
But decades of elevating On War have fundamentally altered how 🇺🇸 adversaries study strategy, in ways Western academics may not fully appreciate and can't easily reverse (6/6).
But decades of elevating On War have fundamentally altered how 🇺🇸 adversaries study strategy, in ways Western academics may not fully appreciate and can't easily reverse (6/6).
