Introduction

John Andreas Olsen*, Martin Van Creveld

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapterpeer-review

Abstract

Operational art is currently taught at most command and staff colleges throughout the Western world. Military colleges and operational headquarters abound with manuals, procedures, and checklists for dealing with the operational level of war and operational art. These materials provide a common, coherent set of references covering a logical framework, proven methodologies, and a standardized vocabulary. They must nevertheless be accompanied by records and analyses of campaigns that define important milestones in the evolution of operational art: not only the flashes of genius and intellectual apexes, but also the periods devoid of creative thinking; not only successful campaigns, but also those that lacked appropriate theoretical underpinnings or operational excellence. This book is intended to provide military professionals, officerscholars, and graduate students the wider framework and contextualization of operational art by tracing its roots and development in various countries.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationThe Evolution of Operational Art
Subtitle of host publicationFrom Napoleon to the Present
PublisherOxford University Press
ISBN (Electronic)9780191595806
ISBN (Print)9780199599486
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Jan 2011
Externally publishedYes

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© The Several Contributors 2011. All rights reserved.

Keywords

  • Checklists
  • Manuals
  • Military professionals
  • Officer-scholars
  • Operational art
  • Procedures
  • War

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