Ah yes, how nice of you to bring up my stoned ravings on a instant messenger on numerous occasions back over 2 years ago!!!!
To straighten things out for you to understand, I was at the time offered a PhD postion at the university I was attending, which I then turned down to explore other opportunities (that and my buisness investments were taking off), I have since realised that I do want to do this, and thus going back to university as of March next year.
Which is all besides the point in this discussion... Has anyone else every really realised how Symphony D changes the subject when he is on the verge of being shown wrong, just so he wont be forced to admit it? To me this seems more like the actions of an angry, socialy-isolated and bright child that has yet been forced to face up to the harsh realities of life and personal relationships. Of course I could be wrong, and for Symphony's sake I hope I am, but if I am not I feel really sorry for you. Now are we going to quit living in the past and resolve the issue at hand?
Das did get it.... I was referring more about the international relations aspect of Clausewitz, not the military side of things... On the military side of things, I am sure he is quiet profficent, however I lack to expertise to make a educated decision on what he is trying to express. With the International Relations sides of things, Clausewitz does leave a lot to be desired and he takes a very 'realist' postion, in so far that he goes on about how states look after only their own immediate interests. As a student of the interdependence theory of study in International Relations, such a view is the natural antithesis to my own, as I believe that there are times when a nation will do something against their immediate interests in the effort of taking the long view and working in co-operation with others....
In laymans terms Realists believe more in the power of the state, tend to overlook the importance of NGOs and similiar organisations and generally take the view that conflict is inevitable and that human nature is bad. Interdependence Theory states that NGOs are more important, that nations while they will have their little dust ups, that they will work together majority of the time, and that within time conflict will be resolved as the more nation's rely on each other, the more they cannot afforsd conflict, eventually, as some hypothise, leading to world government. They also believe that human nature is good, the exact opposite of a realist! Globalisation is often cited as a point in favour of interdependence theory.
Keep in mind you also have other schools of thought, some of them more popular than others.
