Sun Zi on the World Stage

1. Sun Zi on the World Stage

2. “Master Sun’s overwhelming desire to subdue his opponents without actually fighting may also sometimes be self-defeating, especially when faced with a highly aggressive, powerful, and competent opponent. Finally, Master Sun overemphasized the uniquely decisive role of the commander. One gains very little sense of the development of a corps of capable officers or the elaboration of a reliable chain of command-both of which are essential when managing a large army.” (Mair, 54)

3. Sun Zi’s single minded approach is too narrow to be applied to every situation. • This approach does not consider every type of aggressor • Too much emphasis is placed in the commander and little is said about the importance of a well-trained reliable chain of command.

4. “The study of Sun Zi on the Art of War became an American military education staple after the Vietnam war. The US marine corps book of strategy, war fighting, builds upon ideas about maneuver warfare taken directly from the art of war. Recently, business and law schools worldwide add the book to their course of study because the use of the of the weapon of the mind does not require physical manifestation of the sword.” (Cantrell, 6)

5. “Militarily, the great nations of Europe, both the winners and the losers, became a shadow of their former selves, on the world stage, and so relinquished the title of world super-powers to the United States and Soviet Union… Allied weaknesses and Axis miscalculations regarding their ability to hold their gains for a long term resulted in more death and destruction. The final result was not in accord with the principles of Sun Zi, or The Art of War” (Cantrell, 12)

6. The Art of War has become a standard text, not only in the military, but for a broad range of professions