Applicability of the centre of gravity concept in contemporary military operations : doctoral dissertation

Šlebir, Miha (author), Malešič, Marjan (mentor), Svete, Uroš (comentor)

The centre of gravity is a neo-Clausewitzian warfighting concept, which aims to achieve disproportionate desired effects through the degradation of a limited but essential part of the enemy system. The concept favours an indirect approach and is used at all levels of warfare; however, it has special importance for operational art, or the operational level of war. Although over the past few decades the centre of gravity has become the modus operandi of the planning and conduct of (major) military operations in a number of armed forces, questions arise about the true utility of the concept. From a theoretical standpoint, the centre of gravity has a realistic, ontological, and causal perspective as it is based on empirical evidence, co-shapes the perception of reality, and provides explanations of changes. Although some definitions of the centre of gravity are considered contradictory, with the help of conceptual analysis we can identify common dimensions of the concept, which are highlighted by several prolific authors. Namely, these dimensions, pertaining to the operational level of war, are: (1) the leader or commander with an assigned staff, (2) a key military unit, structure, or force, and (3) a computer or cyber network. A multiple-case study of five contemporary military operations (Operation Allied Force, the Five-Day War, Annexation of Crimea, Operation Cast Lead and the Invasion of Asadullah al-Bilawi) revealed that in each case, the winning side degraded the aforementioned subsystems, perceived as (potential) centres of gravity by key theorists, to a far greater degree than vice versa. The centre of gravity therefore retains its analytical value, although it could be further refined in terms of its relation to the complexity theory. The concepts of attractor and phase transition could be of use-the degradation of a key subsystem (centre of gravity) leads to a phase transition (a significant decrease of combat power) and thus to a shift from one to another strange attractor, i.e. to an alternative relatively stable state. Further, based on observations from numerous other systems, we can assume that warfare is also characterized by hysteresis.

• Language: English
• Keywords: centre of gravity, warfare, military operations, operational art, systems theory
• Work type: Doctoral dissertation
• Typology: 2.08 - Doctoral Dissertation
• Organization: FDV - Faculty of Social Sciences
• Place of publishing: Ljubljana
• Publisher: [M. Šlebir]
• Year: 2020
• Number of pages: 1 spletni vir (1 datoteka PDF (257 str.))
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-128667
• UDC: 355.4(043.3)
• COBISS.SI-ID: 71065603
• Publication date in RUL: 22.07.2021

Secondary language

• Language: Slovenian

Abstract

Točka osredotočenja je neoclausewitzevski vojskovalni koncept, ki stremi k doseganju disproporcionalnih želenih učinkov z degradacijo omejenega, a pomembnega dela sovražnikovega sistema. Koncept favorizira posredni pristop in se uporablja na vseh ravneh vojskovanja, kot ključen pa je obravnavan predvsem v operatiki oziroma na operativni ravni vojskovanja. Čeprav je točka osredotočenja v minulih desetletjih postala modus operandi načrtovanja in izvajanja (večjih) vojaških operacij v številnih oboroženih silah, se porajajo vprašanja o resnični uporabnosti koncepta. S teoretskega vidika ima koncept točke osredotočenja realističen, ontološki in vzročni vidik, saj je utemeljen na empiričnih opažanjih, (so)oblikuje dojemanje stvarnega sveta in posreduje razlage za spremembe v njem. Čeprav so nekatere opredelitve točke osredotočenja protislovne, pa lahko s konceptualno analizo ugotovimo, da na operativni ravni vojskovanja več pomembnih avtorjev poudarja enake dimenzije koncepta, in sicer: (1) vodjo oziroma poveljnika z dodeljenim štabom, (2) ključno vojaško enoto, strukturo oziroma silo in (3) računalniško oziroma kibernetsko omrežje. Na podlagi študije petih primerov sodobnih vojaških operacij (operacije Zavezniška sila, petdnevne vojne, operacije vrnitve Krima, operacije Liti svinec in invazije Alahovega leva al Bilavija) lahko sklenemo, da je v vseh obravnavnih operacijah zmagovalna stran uspela degradirati funkcionalnost omenjenih podsistemov sovražnika, ki jih ključni teoretiki dojemajo kot (potencialne) točke osredotočenja, v bistveno večji meri, kot je to v obratni smeri uspelo poražencu. Koncept točke osredotočenja torej ohranja analitično vrednost, pri čemer bi ga bilo mogoče vsebinsko dodelati oziroma ga tesneje povezati s teorijo kompleksnosti. Pri tem si lahko pomagamo s konceptoma atraktorja in faznega prehoda. Degradacija ključnega podsistema (točke osredotočenja) privede do faznega prehoda (izrazitega zmanjšanja bojne moči), s tem pa tudi do premika od enega k drugemu čudnemu atraktorju % novemu, razmeroma stabilnemu stanju. Na podlagi opažanj v številnih drugih sistemih lahko domnevamo, da je tudi za vojskovanje značilna histereza.

• Keywords: točka osredotočenja, vojskovanje, vojaške operacije, operatika, sistemska teorija