Research for Data Links

The purpose of this paper is to provide the theoretical framework and mathematical background necessary to understand and discuss the various ideas of nonlinear dynamics and complex system theory to plant seeds for a later, more detailed discussion (provided in Part II of this report) of how these ideas might apply to land warfare issues. This paper is also intended to be a general technical sourcebook of information. The main idea put forth in this paper is that significant new insights into the fundamental processes of land warfare can be obtained by viewing land warfare as a complex adaptive system. That is to say, by viewing a military 'conflict' as a nonlinear dynamical system composed of many interacting semi-autonomous and hierarchically organized agents continuously adapting to a changing environment. See also CRM 96-68.