Suchergebnisse

El vínculo entre teoría social y la producción de conocimiento estratégico de innovación en diferentes contextos y épocas continúa siendo un interrogante complejo. No obstante, para los estratégicos que conforman una disciplina radicalmente instrumental, la noción de poder es el punto central de su relación con el mundo social. En consonancia con el pensamiento político de la escuela de Cambridge, el presente artículo presenta un breve ejercicio genealógico aplicado al modo estratégico de pensar en Occidente, con el propósito de obtener una mejor comprensión de su enfoque cambiante hacia la estrategia 'en su propia dinámica'. Este ejercicio permite distinguir la fluctuante comprensión de cada una de las nociones de poder involucradas, y su concepto correlativo de crítica, como la precondición teórica más influyente para la innovación estratégica en estudios estratégicos. Nuestro análisis recorre de nuevo el camino de dos tradiciones con visiones antitéticas de la estrategia occidental, lo cual es de vital importancia para comprender la problemática de la innovación en estudios estratégicos. La primera tradición —siguiendo el pensamiento de Maquiavelo, Nietzsche y Foucault— concibe el sujeto en términos de las dinámicas técnicas de poder, en tanto que la segunda —siguiendo el pensamiento de Aristóteles, Kant y Habermas— lo dilucida a partir de las bases legítimas del poder. Los estudios estratégicos críticos no pueden integrar las percepciones de reflexividad —en tanto herramienta cognitiva diferenciador— dado que incorpora indistintamente estas dos perspectivas inconmensurables. Su consideración simultánea genera una tensión cognitiva inherente, de modo que suscita tanto el interés por una estrategia crítica para abordar discretamente el poder como fuerza y el poder como legitimación y la respectiva responsabilidad por parte del estratega de equilibrar sus implicaciones en la práctica.

The link between social theory and the production of innovative strategic knowledge in different contexts and eras remains a complex question. Nevertheless, strategic studies being a radically instrumental discipline, the notion of power is at the centre of its relationship with the social world. In line with the Cambridge school of political thought, this article lays out a brief genealogical exercise applied to strategic thinking in the 'West' in order to better understand Western leaders' changing approach toward strategy 'in their own terms'. This exercise of ideational contextualisation allows for isolating the fluctuating understanding of the very notion of power, and its correlative concept of critique, as the most influential theoretical precondition for strategic innovation in strategic studies. Our analysis retraces a dual tradition competing to inform Western strategy, which is of primordial importance to the problematique of innovation in strategic studies. The first lineage—in line with Machiavelli, Nietzsche and Foucault—advises the subject in terms of technical dynamics of power while the second—in line with Aristotle, Kant and Habermas—enlightens him on the legitimate footings of power. Critical strategic studies cannot integrate the insights of reflexivity—as its distinctive cognitive tool—as long as it encompasses these two distinct perspectives indiscriminately. Their coeval consideration generates an inherent cognitive tension from which arise both the desire for critical strategy to consider power as force and power as legitimacy separately, and the corresponding responsibility for the strategist to balance their implications in practice. ; El vínculo entre teoría social y la producción de conocimiento estratégico de innovación en diferentes contextos y épocas continúa siendo un interrogante complejo. No obstante, para los estratégicos que conforman una disciplina radicalmente instrumental, la noción de poder es el punto central de su relación con el mundo social. En consonancia con el ...

The necessity to innovate and profoundly reform the State was a shared concern for statesmen and strategists during the tumultuous period associated with Napoleonic warfare. The article revisits the 1807 'revolution from above' orchestrated by a few Prussian officers who sought to prepare their antiquated State to face Napoleon's Grande Armée. A contextualist historical approach uncovers how the instrumental use of reflexivity is a core component of Clausewitz's strategic legacy. This study suggests that a revisionist reading of Clausewitz's legacy is characterised by a highly disruptive and dangerously subversive cognitive practice: instrumental reflexivity. This approach calls for constantly reworking one's own ontological lens and diffusing adapted ontologies as essential dimensions of war making. These practices are critical for widening the 'art of the possible' in military affairs and for radical innovations in state reforms. The article concludes by outlining the difficult relation between military institutions and reflexive military thinkers as their subversive intellectual legacies tend to be systematically suppressed.

En este artículo se sostiene que el Ejército Colombiano no pudo aprovechar una oportunidad de reformar su cultura estratégica a principios de 1960. Las propuestas originales del general Alberto Ruiz Novoa fueron neutralizadas por las élites políticas conservadoras. Las propuestas estratégicas de Ruiz Novoa articularon las políticas estatales desarrollistas con medios estrictamente militares. Es menester preguntarse si, ¿medio siglo de guerra se hubiera podido evitar si los militares y el Estado hubieran sido capaces de trascender los intereses particulares de las élites parroquiales por el bien de una estrategia más efectiva? Más allá de la especulación histórica, es vital volver a este episodio con el fin de evitar la repetición de los errores del pasado.

Cet article propose une analyse du processus de transition vers la paix en Colombie sous l'angle de la place cruciale qu'y occupe le droit. La démobilisation des paramilitaires met en lumière le rôle instrumental du droit qui, dans la tension entre ordre et justice, s'avère un moyen pragmatique de faire reconnaître de jure, et donc de légaliser, un rapport de force construit de facto au sein du conflit. La norme de justice est appréciée (et donc nuancée) de manière à ne pas compromettre l'effectivité du processus de transition, et permet à une paix « négative » de se mettre en place, qui n'est finalement que le reflet d'un statu quo social. Implications et conséquences de la recherche de la paix à tout prix se doivent d'être examinées. Pour cela, il est impératif de revoir les divisions disciplinaires qui occultent souvent ces questions essentielles.

This special issue offers a platform for 15 leading military practitioners (commanders, planners, developers and instructors on duty or retired) from five countries to share their experiences with design thinking and other reflexive approaches in the classroom, in headquarters and/or on battlefields. These reflexive approaches are gaining momentum and are consolidating as a distinct paradigm in military and strategic practices around the world. The articles included herein present the visions of some of the leading practitioners dictating the terms and promoting this epistemological transition in their national institutions and, in some cases, transnationally. This introduction divides contributors into four task forces based on key issues they engage: efficacy criteria including ethics, education, and organizational politics. The conclusion of this special issue lays the ground for a research program to further learn from and inform reflexive military practices by developing three directions following the logics of translation, narration and power relations.

This special issue offers a platform for 15 leading military practitioners (commanders, planners, developers and instructors on duty or retired) from five countries to share their experiences with design thinking and other reflexive approaches in the classroom, in headquarters and/or on battlefields. These reflexive approaches are gaining momentum and are consolidating as a distinct paradigm in military and strategic practices around the world. The articles included herein present the visions of some of the leading practitioners dictating the terms and promoting this epistemological transition in their national institutions and, in some cases, transnationally. This introduction divides contributors into four task forces based on key issues they engage: efficacy criteria including ethics, education, and organizational politics. The conclusion of this special issue lays the ground for a research program to further learn from and inform reflexive military practices by developing three directions following the logics of translation, narration and power relations.