Science, Strategy and War The Strategic Theory of ... - Boekje Pienter

“Social Order and the General Theory of Strategy”, Alexander Atkinson“Moral fibre is the “great dam that denies the flood of social relations their natural route ofdecline towards violence and anarchy”…In this sense, “moral order at the center of sociallife literally saves society from itself.”“Strategists must grasp this fact that social order is, at once, a moral order…If the moralorder on which rests a fabric of social and power relations is compromised, then the fabric(of social order) it upholds goes with it”.In other words, “the one great hurdle in the strategic combination (moral and social order) isthe moral order. If this remains untouched the formation of new social relations and socialranking in status and power either never gets off the ground or faces the perennial specter ofbacksliding towards the moral attractions of established social and power relations.”The strategic imperative, then, becomes one of trying to “achieve relative security of socialresources by subverting and reweaving those of the opponent into the fabric of one’s ownsocial order” 49 .“Beyond Culture”, by Edward T. Hall“Everything man is and does is modified by learning and is therefore malleable. But oncelearned, these behavior patterns, these habitual responses, these ways of interacting graduallysink below the surface of the mind and, like the admiral of a submerged submarine fleet,control from the depths. The hidden controls are usually experienced as though they wereinnate simply because they are not only ubiquitous but habitual as well.”“…The only time one is aware of the control system is when things don’t follow the hiddenprogram. This is most frequent in intercultural encounters. Therefore, the great gift that themembers of the human race have for each other is not exotic experiences but an opportunityto achieve awareness of the structure of their own system, which can be accomplished onlyby interacting with others who do not share that system…” 5049 Ibid, p.21.50 Ibid, p.22. This is an important quotation from Hall’s work (to be found on p.42 and p.44.).Considered a classic, it is (with Clifford Geertz’ work) one of the few works in the bibliography ofPatterns of Conflict that has culture as its main subject. A very brief summary of Hall's view of culture isas follows: culture = models/templates. Culture is the medium we live in, like the air we breathe.Culture is innate but learned (i.e. we are born with the physical necessity and capacity to specialize ourbodies, brains, hearts in line with cultural patterns). Culture is living, interlocking system(s) - touchone part, the rest moves. Culture is shared; it is created and maintained through relationship. It is also ahighly selective screen between man and the outside world. Culture designates what we pay attentionto and what we ignore. It is easy to see how this book could fuel Boyd's belief in shared orientation,and the importance of obtaining a variety of perspectives. Another section (p.43) later also underlinesthe importance of novelty in this context. Normally one is not aware of one’s patterns for ‘man’snervous system is structured in such asway that the patterns that govern behavior and perceptioncome into consciousness only when there is a deviation from plan’. In addition, Hall discusses‘monochromatic organizations and argues that, as they grow larger, they turn inward, becoming blindto their own structure; they grow rigid and are even apt to lose sight of their original purpose (p.24).Another topic frequently advanced is the fact that ‘we have been taught to think linearly rather thancomprehensively’ (p.11), a ‘compartimentalized way of thinking’ (p.12). Interestingly, Hall alsoincluded a quote from J. Bronowski that was close to Boyd’s heart: ‘There is no absolute knowledge,and those who claim it, whether they are scientists or dogmatists, open the door to tragedy’ (p.71).249