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

explain, and to derive insights and prescriptions from the complex dynamic behavior of suchsystems. Several authors have argued for the close relationship between post-modernscience, and complexity theory. To understand social societies, adopting the view that one isexamining a complex systems is paramount. And when the world is considered a complexsystem a pluralist or multiperspectivist post-modern approach is the right one for derivingmeaning 73 .The similarities with post-modern security studies and Boyd’s work are self evident.Arguing for the relevance of the multidimensional nature of complexity theory for conflictanalysis Sandole states that: ‘Complexity theory shares with post-modernity the sense thattraditional boundaries are breaking down, together with an emphasis on process. Indeed[….] complexity theory and postmodernism overlap significantly, e.g. complexity theory itselfis a postmodern development, while postmodernism is part of the chaos that coexists incomplex ways with order (e.g. modernism) at the edge of chaos’ 74 . In these developmentsone recognizes Boyd’s understanding of the interplay between orientation patterns andaction, and the importance of variety as an element of an effective command and controlsystem. In post-modern security and strategic studies the role of theory, of frames ofreference, of discourse, of language, of systems of meaning in understanding andsimultaneously shaping and predicting reality becomes clear. Boyd’s use of complexity theoryonly adds to the impression that indeed Boyd is a post-modern strategist.Boydian concepts and post-modern vision of future warThe rise of the post-modern warformThe argument that Boyd may rightfully considered a post-modern strategist is also based on(a) the close parallels between, and influence of Boyd’s ideas on the one hand and visions offuture war developed in the nineties on the other hand, and (b) the relation between thesefuture visions of war and post-modernism. The latter is made easy by the fact that “postmodernwar” and “the post-modern military” have been frequently employed titles of articlesand studies arguing how war and military organizations have changed in the past decades orsince the end of the Cold War. The postmodern school of thought in military studies first of73 See Best and Kellner, chapter 2, who trace the multispectralist aspect back to Nietsche. See alsoKurt A. Richardson et al, who note that the normal scientific reductionist model cannot explainadequately the behavior of complex systems. Not only do we need to examine the sub-systems, butwe must also have eye for the relations between those sub-systems and understand the emergentbehavior, which from a local sub-system level cannot be explained. No single perspective can capturethe rich and intricate behavior of complex systems and the analysis of complex systems requires us toconsider a number of perspectives[....] the basic requirement of a complexity-based epistemology isthe exploration of perspectives [...] complexity thinking legitimates pluralism. By exploring a numberof perspectives a richer appreciation of the state of affairs of interest will be developed, resulting inmore informed decision making. In considering a variety of perspectives a negotiation between theseperspectives is encouraged that drives the exploration process. The merits and deficiencies of eachperspective are examined in light of both the supporting and contradictory evidence offered by otherperspectives. As the different perspectives are played against and with each other new perspectivesemerge that are at least an eclectic mixture of the parts of the constituent perspectives that seem mostrelevant to the state of affairs under consideration. This intra and extra perspective exploration willidentify other perspectives that might be worthy of inclusion, fuelling another round of exploration.After a number of exploration cycles a number of perspectives are left. These offer the most relevantand most accurate knowledge for that particular moment and the problem at hand.74 Sandole, p. 201299