Fog, friction, and control in organized conflict: punctuated transitions to instability

Rodrick Wallace

The Journal of Defense Modeling and Simulation, 2024, vol. 21, issue 2, 141-147

Abstract: We explore the effects of Clausewitzian fog and friction using a data rate theorem–based model of the phase transition from control to failure for inherently unstable systems that include, but are not limited to, the many possible modalities of organized conflict. Fog-and-friction challenge any and all cognitive structures facing dynamic patterns of threat or opportunity, whether control is manifested through an institution, a machine entity, or some composite. The fundamental nature of challenge appears independent of the degree of sophistication of those institutions, entities, or composites, and of the technical modalities employed. The dialog/Zweikampf of organized conflict is—and will remain—an intimate and most human enterprise. Implications for other existential threats of inherently unstable circumstance, like pandemic disease or climate change, are evident.

Keywords: Combat; control theory; information theory; phase transition; scalarization (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/15485129221115740 (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:sae:joudef:v:21:y:2024:i:2:p:141-147

DOI: 10.1177/15485129221115740

Access Statistics for this article

More articles in The Journal of Defense Modeling and Simulation
Bibliographic data for series maintained by SAGE Publications ().