Publication

This monograph examines the notion of 'operational art' in warfare. The authors argue that the idea of an operational level of war charged with the planning and conduct of campaigns misconceives the relationship between wars, campaigns and operations, and is both historically mistaken and wrong in theory. They conclude that its incorporation into US doctrine has had the regrettable impact of separating the conduct of campaigns from the conduct of wars and consequently marginalized the role of politics in the direction of war. In essence, they argue that the idea of the campaign has come to overwhelm that of strategy.