Applicability of the centre of gravity concept in contemporary military operations : doctoral dissertation

The centre of gravity is a neo-Clausewitzian warfighting concept, which aims to achieve disproportionate desired effects through the degradation of a limited but essential part of the enemy system. The concept favours an indirect approach and is used at all levels of warfare; however, it has special importance for operational art, or the operational level of war. Although over the past few decades the centre of gravity has become the modus operandi of the planning and conduct of (major) military operations in a number of armed forces, questions arise about the true utility of the concept. From a theoretical standpoint, the centre of gravity has a realistic, ontological, and causal perspective as it is based on empirical evidence, co-shapes the perception of reality, and provides explanations of changes. Although some definitions of the centre of gravity are considered contradictory, with the help of conceptual analysis we can identify common dimensions of the concept, which are highlighted by several prolific authors. Namely, these dimensions, pertaining to the operational level of war, are: (1) the leader or commander with an assigned staff, (2) a key military unit, structure, or force, and (3) a computer or cyber network. A multiple-case study of five contemporary military operations (Operation Allied Force, the Five-Day War, Annexation of Crimea, Operation Cast Lead and the Invasion of Asadullah al-Bilawi) revealed that in each case, the winning side degraded the aforementioned subsystems, perceived as (potential) centres of gravity by key theorists, to a far greater degree than vice versa. The centre of gravity therefore retains its analytical value, although it could be further refined in terms of its relation to the complexity theory. The concepts of attractor and phase transition could be of use-the degradation of a key subsystem (centre of gravity) leads to a phase transition (a significant decrease of combat power) and thus to a shift from one to another strange attractor, i.e. to an alternative relatively stable state. Further, based on observations from numerous other systems, we can assume that warfare is also characterized by hysteresis.