A brilliant tour de force in which strategy blogger Daniel H. Abbott (www.tdaxp.com) uses concepts from modern military strategy to illuminate the history of early Christianity, Rome, and Islam, as recounted by the historical protagonists in their own words. Must reading for anyone who is interested in the present-day struggle between Islam and the West, guerilla warfare, counterinsurgency, 4th- or 5th- generation warfare, John Boyd, Thomas P. M. Barnett, or the history of the early Church.
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Dan has done a remarkable job applying contemporary theories of warfare and network science to the early Christian / late Roman era. The most notable strength in Revolutionary Strategies is his inventive correlation of the defensive strategies employed by Caiaphas (the chief antagonist of Jesus's ministries) to those of Diocletian (the late-3rd century Roman emperor who ordered the most severe persecution of the Christian faithful). Accompanying this analysis is a very cogent application of the theories of Boyd (Penetrate - Isolate - Subvert - Reorient - Reharmonize, or PISRR), with modern examples like Vichy France that match the dynamics in the early Christian church.
Both Caiaphas and Diocletian sought to preserve the status quo. For Caiaphas, appeasing Rome was his primary objective: a rogue rabbi who preached of other-worldly gifts would have reflected poorly upon him and his hierarchy. Diocletian clearly understood the management complexities of so vast an empire, and seemed to adeptly address many of the most-pressing ills that plagued the Empire (poor civic participation, an army spread thin on the borders with little to no interior defenses) despite his rampant cronyism (particularly in the establishment of the Tetrarchy). But for the first 18 years of his reign Diocletian was unconcerned about the "Christian threat" - and if it not for Galerius would likely have never ordered the Great Persecution.
Most significantly, Dan's book opens several new fronts on the debate over the nature of insurgency - and counterinsurgency. For instance, is the ex post facto presumption of "co-option" by the splinter Jewish sect that has become the Christian church practical? Or, rather, was the Christian faith "culturally appropriated" by the Roman empire upon Emperor Constantine's conversion to Christianity in the early 4th century? While Dan asserts the former through the hypernetworking of the Apostle Paul, I believe this is a topic worthy of broader study. For instance, was Paul (née Saul of Tarsus, a Pharisee) savvy enough to realize that his peers in Jewish leadership were attracting the ire of Rome? Did Paul's ministries throughout the Mediterranean seek to increase the rift between Jerusalem and the splinter sect of Christian faithful? And were the Gospels written in a manner to give Rome (and particularly Pilate) a "pass" in the crucifixion of Jesus? (Note that three of the four Gospels were published immediately prior to the First Jewish-Roman War and the subsequent destruction of the Temple in 70 A.D.)
Dan also provides another benchmark in the evolving theory of the "generations of war", to wit his development of a taxonomy to differentiate between the various generational constructs. Though I disagree with his assertions that the "0th" (zeroth) generation connotes a form of "total war" and that 3rd generation warfare connotes "better minds", Dan brings value by identifying possible relationships across the xGW generations and inviting further dialogue.
This is perhaps the greatest utility of Revolutionary Strategies: proffering novel ideas in order to provoke debate. Just as the spiritual values of the Romans were initially at odds with the splinter Jewish sect we now call Christians, the different cognitive approaches of Islam and Christianity - one society favoring creativity and innovation, the other cherishing rote memorization - will have similar consequences for our own unfolding century.
Both Caiaphas and Diocletian sought to preserve the status quo. For Caiaphas, appeasing Rome was his primary objective: a rogue rabbi who preached of other-worldly gifts would have reflected poorly upon him and his hierarchy. Diocletian clearly understood the management complexities of so vast an empire, and seemed to adeptly address many of the most-pressing ills that plagued the Empire (poor civic participation, an army spread thin on the borders with little to no interior defenses) despite his rampant cronyism (particularly in the establishment of the Tetrarchy). But for the first 18 years of his reign Diocletian was unconcerned about the "Christian threat" - and if it not for Galerius would likely have never ordered the Great Persecution.
Most significantly, Dan's book opens several new fronts on the debate over the nature of insurgency - and counterinsurgency. For instance, is the ex post facto presumption of "co-option" by the splinter Jewish sect that has become the Christian church practical? Or, rather, was the Christian faith "culturally appropriated" by the Roman empire upon Emperor Constantine's conversion to Christianity in the early 4th century? While Dan asserts the former through the hypernetworking of the Apostle Paul, I believe this is a topic worthy of broader study. For instance, was Paul (née Saul of Tarsus, a Pharisee) savvy enough to realize that his peers in Jewish leadership were attracting the ire of Rome? Did Paul's ministries throughout the Mediterranean seek to increase the rift between Jerusalem and the splinter sect of Christian faithful? And were the Gospels written in a manner to give Rome (and particularly Pilate) a "pass" in the crucifixion of Jesus? (Note that three of the four Gospels were published immediately prior to the First Jewish-Roman War and the subsequent destruction of the Temple in 70 A.D.)
Dan also provides another benchmark in the evolving theory of the "generations of war", to wit his development of a taxonomy to differentiate between the various generational constructs. Though I disagree with his assertions that the "0th" (zeroth) generation connotes a form of "total war" and that 3rd generation warfare connotes "better minds", Dan brings value by identifying possible relationships across the xGW generations and inviting further dialogue.
This is perhaps the greatest utility of Revolutionary Strategies: proffering novel ideas in order to provoke debate. Just as the spiritual values of the Romans were initially at odds with the splinter Jewish sect we now call Christians, the different cognitive approaches of Islam and Christianity - one society favoring creativity and innovation, the other cherishing rote memorization - will have similar consequences for our own unfolding century.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
What if I told you that Jesus and St. Paul were the architects of the greatest insurgent (fourth-generation warfare) campaign ever? What if I used Scripture and contemporary Roman records to show exactly how they did it (and how the Romans recognized the threat and responded, ultimately failing)? That's exactly what Daniel Abbott does in "Revolutionary Strategies in Early Christianity: 4th Generation Warfare (4GW) Against the Roman Empire, and the Counterinsurgency (COIN) Campaign to Save It". In an intellectual tour de force, Dan not only convincingly explains how precepts such as "If someone forces to you to go one mile, go with him two miles" and "I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a
man; she must be silent" served as foundations for the Christian revolution; he then explains how Muhammed designed Islam to defeat Christianity. And to top things off Dan analogizes the two religions to Microsoft and IBM. At just over 40 pages Dan's book is a short, clear, and profound read. It WILL change the way you look at history, current events, and the future, whether you're an atheist, agnostic, or a practicing Catholic like me. I realize that last sentence defies credulity, but the ideas in this book ARE that powerful!
man; she must be silent" served as foundations for the Christian revolution; he then explains how Muhammed designed Islam to defeat Christianity. And to top things off Dan analogizes the two religions to Microsoft and IBM. At just over 40 pages Dan's book is a short, clear, and profound read. It WILL change the way you look at history, current events, and the future, whether you're an atheist, agnostic, or a practicing Catholic like me. I realize that last sentence defies credulity, but the ideas in this book ARE that powerful!
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
The one and the only Dan Tdaxp has published his first (and by no means last) book. 'Revolutionary Strategies' applies contemporary military theory to the Christianization of the Roman Empire. Using biblical sources and secondary histories to deduce the strategy of early Christians, Dan argues that the Christian movement adopted a strategy with regards to the Roman Empire that is analogous to 4th Generation War: By loving their enemies (the Romans), the Christians ultimately destroyed the Roman will to resist Christianity. As Christianity spread throughout the Roman Empire, it came to be seen by the Romans as a useful pillar to uphold the legitimacy and authority of the state as it was confronted by external enemies (re: pesky barbarians). Thus, Constantine's vision in 312 comes at a fortuitous time, as Rome was ripe to embrace Christianity, waiting patiently for its embrace.
The best of Dan's strategic analysis involves integrating Boyd's PISRR steps to victory and the gendering of different aspects of war. PISRR stands for Penetrate-Isolate-Subdue/Subvert-Reorganize-Reharmonize. However, to successfully PISRR an enemy, and harmonize its existence according to one's own strategy, it is necessary to use both male Panzers and female Soldats. Panzers crash gates, Soldats build societies. Using one without the other leaves one strategically vulnerable to further annihalation or eventual subversion. Femininity and Masculinity go hand in hand in warfare, a velvet glove to an iron fist. Christian Panzers spread the Good Word, Soldats ensured it stayed in the hearts and minds of the people. When the Empire was weak, it could switch to a Christian ideology that was already well received among the people. Thus, Christians destroyed the Roman will to resist it, as it became more rational to embrace it.
At least that's what I got out of it (without revealing too much).
However, no good review should be completely uncritical. So allow me to pick a fight. Instead of 4GW, might it be more consistent with xGW to think of this as 5GW? To quote Dan:
Your enemy must not feel that he is not on your side" (see [..]
By loving the Romans and respecting their political rule, the Christians were trying to keep the Romans from perceiving them as enemies, despite the fact that Christian social norms were non-hierarchal (everyone equal in the eyes of God) and threatening to the patriarchal Roman social order. Thus, I see carrying the equipment of Roman soldiers (as instructed by Jesus in Matthew 5:41) as a way to falsify the Roman characterization of Christians as enemies. Loving your enemy is the best way to make him not think of you as an enemy.
Either way, this is a sweet book that gets me thinking about xGW in pre-modern terms. Check it out, and then go read Dan's blog, www.dreaming5gw.com, and the blogs of those esteemed contributors.
The best of Dan's strategic analysis involves integrating Boyd's PISRR steps to victory and the gendering of different aspects of war. PISRR stands for Penetrate-Isolate-Subdue/Subvert-Reorganize-Reharmonize. However, to successfully PISRR an enemy, and harmonize its existence according to one's own strategy, it is necessary to use both male Panzers and female Soldats. Panzers crash gates, Soldats build societies. Using one without the other leaves one strategically vulnerable to further annihalation or eventual subversion. Femininity and Masculinity go hand in hand in warfare, a velvet glove to an iron fist. Christian Panzers spread the Good Word, Soldats ensured it stayed in the hearts and minds of the people. When the Empire was weak, it could switch to a Christian ideology that was already well received among the people. Thus, Christians destroyed the Roman will to resist it, as it became more rational to embrace it.
At least that's what I got out of it (without revealing too much).
However, no good review should be completely uncritical. So allow me to pick a fight. Instead of 4GW, might it be more consistent with xGW to think of this as 5GW? To quote Dan:
Your enemy must not feel that he is not on your side" (see [..]
By loving the Romans and respecting their political rule, the Christians were trying to keep the Romans from perceiving them as enemies, despite the fact that Christian social norms were non-hierarchal (everyone equal in the eyes of God) and threatening to the patriarchal Roman social order. Thus, I see carrying the equipment of Roman soldiers (as instructed by Jesus in Matthew 5:41) as a way to falsify the Roman characterization of Christians as enemies. Loving your enemy is the best way to make him not think of you as an enemy.
Either way, this is a sweet book that gets me thinking about xGW in pre-modern terms. Check it out, and then go read Dan's blog, www.dreaming5gw.com, and the blogs of those esteemed contributors.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
How to take over an empire using only love
Dan was kind enough to let me read his monograph Revolutionary Strategies in Early Christianity. It's an excellent read with an interesting argument:
"By ruling out... Read more
"By ruling out... Read more
Published on December 23, 2008 by L. C. Rees
5.0 out of 5 stars
Review: Revolutionary Strategies in Early Christianity
The brief book outlines Abbott's application of generational war theory and contemporary military strategy to Christianity's peaceful conquest of the Roman Empire. Read more
Published on May 22, 2008 by Adam Roberts
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