Jomini and the Foundations of Modern War

Antoine-Henri Jomini was a foundational 19th-century military theorist whose approach to warfare sought to define universal principles of strategy and tactics. His emphasis on geometric concepts like interior lines of operation, massing combat power at decisive points, and the critical importance of logistics remains highly relevant today. In the contemporary security environment, Jomini’s structured principles continue to underpin modern military planning, joint doctrine, and multi-domain operations by providing a framework for organizing complex campaigns. Ultimately, while the character of war has evolved with advanced technologies, Jomini’s enduring focus on objective analysis and the concentration of force continues to shape how modern militaries conceptualize and execute military operations across multi domain operations.

Dr. Sean N. Kalic is a Cold War historian. He lectures and publishes widely on topics such as U.S. space policy, the Cold War, the post-Cold War security environment, and transnational terrorism. Prior to CGSC, he taught at Youngstown State University, Kansas State University, and Norwich University. He has presented lectures for the U.S. Navy War College’s Fleet Seminar Program, The Slovenian General Staff, The Slovenian Command and General Staff College, The U.S. Army’s Futures Command, as well as numerous international conferences. He has taught in the Department of Military History at the US Army Command and General Staff College since 2004.

The Ft. Leavenworth Series is an annual roster of lectures focusing on significant historical events, usually with an emphasis on military history. Each lecture is presented by faculty from the United States Army Command and General Staff College in Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas. Established by General William Tecumseh Sherman in 1881, the CGSC is the graduate college for U.S. Army and sister service officers. The esteemed faculty and guests of the CGSC provide unique and captivating insights into the history of military conflict from the ancient to the modern ages at the Dole Institute of Politics.

The opinions expressed herein are those of the individual and do not necessarily represent the views of the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College or any other governmental agency.