Regardless of Clausewitz? Classical strategic theory in a hybrid world

The focus of this essay is to evaluate the explanatory power of Clausewitz’s theory in a hybrid context or, to say it differently, one in which states and non-states clash against each other but also mix and merge, thus generating hybrid forms of war and warfare. It relates to the debates about the changing character/nature of war – i.e. war changing at its core or only in its appearance – and on the persisting (or waning) validity of Clausewitz’s theory in adapting to changes in war and warfare . It aims to provide a useful contribution to these debates in a threefold fashion: by re-vitalizing the entrenched debate on counterinsurgency (‘hearts and minds’ vs. ‘enemy-centric’ approaches), by connecting the COIN debate with other strands of literature and reflections on war and warfare, and by showing how a single, unified, Clausewitzian outlook can provide the means to overcome fragmented perspectives on continuity and change in war.