Orchestra of Change: Strategically Harmonizing National Character, Military Forces, and the Character of War

Abstract : This study develops the theory that strategic harmonization of a countrys national character, military forces, and the character of the wars in which it participates minimizes risk and creates conditions for success. The spectrum of socio-technological revolutions from revolutionary wave theory, to military revolutions, to revolutions in military affairs creates the structure for strategic harmonization. Harmonization occurs when the means, ways, and ends of military forces efficaciously translate the means, ways, and ends of national character into positive strategic effects in the character of war. The author applies this theory to case studies of the United States during the Industrial Revolution and the on-going Information Revolution. An analysis of the case studies determines that while the United States successfully harmonized during the Industrial Revolution, the US military forces means and ways of organizing, training, and equipping that created this success are generating discord and causing strategic risk for the United States in the Information Revolution. The final section proposes a solution for strategic harmonization through investing in ubiquitous network architecture, training and empowering military forces to become a part of a complex, chaotic system at the edge of the battle space, and eliminating wasted bureaucratic overhead and organizational barriers to integration.