Guiding Questions 2:

What is the definition of Absolute War?

To what extent Absolute War could happen?
Example of Absolute War?
 What is the definition of Absolute War?

Sebuah bentuk perang yang menggunakan energi militer

dan kekuatan senjata secara maksimal yang bertujuan
dan berkompetensi untuk menghancurkan kekuatan dari
pihak lawan secara keseluruhan.
Clausewitz dalam On War

merupakan perang yang terjadi jika negara dilucuti dari

semua pertimbangan praktis yaitu kepentingan, politik,
ruang dan waktu sehingga negara kembali ke sifat
alaminya yang ekstrim terhadap aksi kekerasan.
van Creveld (2000:114-15)
 To what extent Absolute War could happen?
War In Theory
This is what war looks like if people sit down
Definition and plan out a war with hypothetical
opponents
• maximum use of force
• total and zero-sum; fight until the
Conduct: • other side is completely destroyed
• devote all resources necessary to win
• war is unpredictable
None; conduct leads to “escalation of the
Limits extreme”
Conclusions War is apolitical and irrational
Example of Absolute War?
War In Reality
This is what war actually looks like; it’s
messy, unexpected, and difficult to
control
• War isn’t always fought until one side
wins
• War is frequently interrupted and
never final
• Only use the minimum amount
resources necessary to win
• War is never accidental
Political leaders define limited war
objectives
and control the military
War is political and rational