Military Review English Edition July-August 2014 | Page 19

ON STRATEGIC UNDERSTANDING

A final example of a strategic framework is Carl
von Clausewitz’s critical analysis (kritik).27 As he wrote
in On War, “Critical analysis [is the] application of
theoretical truths to actual events.”28 The objective is to
unravel “the hidden processes of intuitive judgment,” an
important skill for all military officers.29 This process,
described in detail in a full chapter Clausewitz devoted
to the subject in On War, helps the student connect
theories from many disciplines to military experience.30

Practice and Exercise
Historian David McCullough once remarked—
The great thing about the arts is that you can
only learn by doing it—that’s how you learn
things. You can’t learn to play the piano by
reading a book about playing the piano. You
can’t learn to paint without painting. You
have to do it.31
Similarly, developing strategic understanding is akin
to learning an art. The optimal format for studying strategy provides case studies and real -world practice. To this
end, at West Point, military strategy classroom instruction is supplemented by a series of War Council events
(conducted separately, but in parallel with the website).
The basic concept is to invite panelists from different academic backgrounds to provide varied perspectives on a
conflict. Three recent events included a total of eighteen
panelists from ten separate academic departments.
A March-April 2014 survey revealed overwhelming
approval of the War Council events.32 A large majority
believed the events helped them better understand
the use of force in the international environment and
inspired them to conduct further self-study. One of the
cadets stated, “Events like the War Councils are what
I came to West Point for. They are the most relevant
developmental experiences that I have had here.”

Finding ways to provide venues for practice and
exercise—particularly in assessing current strategic
issues—resonates with the target audience for this
strategic ed X