The risks of a tourism caught in Clausewitz's fog of war

Abstract

The Prussian General Carl von Clausewitz (and his theories on war) does not take a vacation! Yet, I am about to establish here a daring connection between Clausewitz’s theories and tourism as the starting point for my argument. This chapter brings together reflections from various areas of knowledge to identify one of the risks that I see as very much looming over the practice of tourism: that of political instrumentalisation in the international arena, especially in the presence of tense geopolitical situations.Tourism, understood not only as physical movement but also as a social phenomenon, reflects and amplifies the political, economic, and cultural dynamics of the contemporary world. The free movement of people and the very perception of certain areas/ destinations often have to contend with international politics, propaganda, and the effects of what Carl von Clausewitz (and here’s where the Prussian general comes into play) defined as the “fog of war”, that is, the uncertainty that characterises conflict situations and decisions in wartime.The concept of the “fog of war” comes from military studies, indeed, and refers to the uncertainty and disorientation that accompany military operations. I’d like to extend this notion to describe the political and social dynamics that willingly or unwillingly affect tourism in times of conflicts. Propaganda, political strategies, and international relations generate a “fog” that can distort the perception of the safety and accessibility of tourist destinations, and thus directly influence the ability of tourism to actually be a vehicle for intercultural dialogue and global understanding.The awareness about this dynamic is fundamental to the debate on the role of tour- ism in promoting peace or, conversely, in perpetuating conflicts. In this sense, for instance, when a Portuguese university asked me in 2020 to curate the contents for a new master’s programme on international tourism development, I deemed it appropriate to introduce, on an experimental basis, a module on “geopolitics and tourism”(where I also made sure to clarify the difference between “geopolitics and tourism”and “geopolitics of tourism”).The political use of tourism can have very complex and potentially harmful consequences, not only for the destinations involved, but also for the entire global tourism ecosystem, undermining tourism’s role as a tool for cultural exchange and mutual understanding. Despite the breadth of the implications, however, these dynamics do not seem to attract significant attention from the scientific community.In the following sections of this chapter, by summarising personal considerations and key academic insights about the political use of tourism, addressing how tour- ism intersects with diplomacy, national identity, economic development, geopolitical tensions, propaganda, and cultural exploitation, I will therefore briefly provide arguments and outline the reasons why, on the contrary, this issue should be added urgently to the research agenda of tourism scholars