War as the Continuation of Politics with other Means

Abstract

The concepts of ’war’ and ’politics’ have been inextricably linked since the advent of the modern era. Even Carl von Clausewitz's most famous definition of war emphasises that war is nothing other than ’the continuation of political contact, its realisation by other means’. Nevertheless, the relationship between the two concepts was the subject of considerable debate at the end of the 20th century. The argument was put forth that the relationship between war and politics was unique to the era in which Clausewitz lived, and that Clausewitz himself did not perceive a different dynamic. After a comprehensive examination of this objection, the subsequent paper delves into the historical evolution of the nexus between war and politics, tracing its trajectory from the advent of warfare to the conclusion of the 20^th century. It ultimately substantiates the proposition that war has consistently been intertwined with politics and that the concept of politics cannot be excluded from its definition.