Capturing the Character of Future War
Journal: The US Army War College Quarterly Parameters
Year: 2016

This essay proposes a conceptual framework combining elements of Clausewitz's On War with trend-forecasting techniques to describe future operational environments. This framework captures how the interaction of megatrends-the rate of technological change, the composition of the international system, and the strength of state governance-shapes the character of competition, confrontation, and conflict in each period. We argue this framework can help military officers build the future force.