Revolution in Military Affairs Gian Pili on Land Warfare and the Philosophy of War, Part II
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Feb 16, 2026 Gian Pili, philosopher and scholar of war who analyzes military theory and maneuver, offers a probing look at land warfare and doctrine. He explores why theory matters for maneuver, the often-overlooked power of pursuit, and German emphasis on artillery and siege practice. He traces his intellectual journey from philosophy to open-source war analysis and recommends classic strategic reads.
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Theory Checks Strategic Assumptions
- Theory lets you test what to think and what not to think about warfare.
- Isolating maneuver as a singular solution is misleading because it’s only one facet of war.
German Warfare Was Mostly Concentric Destruction
- German maneuver was often a brief envelopment followed by concentric destruction inside the cauldron.
- We overemphasize flashy maneuver while undercounting the slow destruction that produced success.
Pursuit Decides Battles Yet Is Neglected
- Pursuit after battle produces far more casualties than the fight itself and often decides campaigns.
- Modern Western forces lack manpower and structure to exploit pursuit, producing recurring fights instead of decisive ends.
