CLAUSEWITZ IN THE ERA OF AUTONOMOUS WAR: THE RELEVANCE OF CLASSICAL STRATEGIES IN THE DYNAMICS OF TECHNOLOGICAL CONFLICT

Abstract

Carl von Clausewitz's strategic thought, as formulated in On War, remains a foundational reference in the study of war and military strategy. However, the emergence of advanced technologies such as drones, artificial intelligence (AI), autonomous weapons, and cyber warfare has introduced significant challenges to the classical application of his principles. This article revisits the relevance of four core Clausewitzian concepts: the trinity of war, the fog of war, political dominance, and the center of gravity, by reinterpreting them within the context of technologically driven conflict. Through a qualitative, literature-based, and theoretical-critical approach, the study also evaluates the limits of Clausewitzian theory using the Russia–Ukraine war as a case study, which illustrates tensions between classical strategy and autonomous warfare. While the tools and methods of warfare have transformed, the fundamental nature of war as a violent and uncertain political phenomenon persists. The findings affirm that Clausewitz’s principles retain strategic value when applied contextually and adaptively. This article offers an original, cross-domain conceptual framework that integrates classical theory with AI-driven conflict, ethics, and technological transformation, providing a unified analytical lens for understanding future warfare.