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What is Strategy?
Defining Strategy
Strategy is the use of engagement for the object of War (Clausewitz) Strategy is the practical adaptation of the means placed at a generals disposal for the attainment of the objects in War (Von Moltke) Strategy is the art of distributing and applying military means to fulfill the ends of policy (Liddell Hart) Strategy is the art of the dialectic of two opposing wills using force to resolve their dispute (Andre Beaufre)
B. Redefines the relationship between politics, diplomacy and the use of power rather than merely kinetic force (at domestic, national and international levels) C. Growth in non-traditional military roles and involvement of political leadership in strategic affairs, which were traditionally considered as entirely military domain.
F. More direct co-relation between Industrialization and warfare. (Growing role of technology and economy, both in terms of means and ends of warfare)
about
effectively
Strategy must now be understood as nothing less than the overall plan for utilizing the capacity for armed coercion in conjunction with economic, diplomatic and psychological instruments of power to support foreign policy most effectively, by overt, covert and tacit means. (Robert Osgood)
Strategy: Far more than the study of wars and military campaigns
The theory and practice of the use, and threat of use, of organized force for political purposes. (Gray, 1999)
Post-Clausewitzean Thought:
Strategy: From an extension to an essential component of Policy
The separation of strategy and policy can only be achieved to the detriment of both. It causes military power to become identified with the most absolute application of power and it tempts diplomacy into an over-concern with finesse (Kissinger, 1957)
Modern Strategy involves understanding, incorporating and efficiently utilizing all of the following considerations and factors..
Time Weapon systems, their capabilities and vulnerabilities Personnel, their capabilities and limitations Psychology Sociology Geography Technology Tactics Force structure Economics Politics
Strategy: A Theory of Action determining why, when and where to act and how?
Strategic Theory is a theory of action How to do it? Intellectual aid to official performance -Bernard Brodie
Modern Approach:
An Inter-disciplinary Approach
Strategic studies, although dealing with military power has no clear parameters in terms of a specific discipline of study. It heavily relies upon: Arts Science Statistics Mathematics Social Sciences
Some of the greatest strategic thinkers had nothing to do with military careers
Herman Kahn Physicist Halford John Mackinder - Geographer Thomas Schelling Economist Albert Wholstetter Mathematician Henry Kissinger Historian Bernard Brodie - Political Scientist John Keegan, Colin S. Gray, Lawrence Freedman are all Social Scientists
Bernard Brodie
Strategy as Science: Taking strategy beyond tactics and technology Proposed A Methodological and Scientific Approach to Strategy similar to Economics
Political Science
International Relations
Security Studies
Strategic Studies
Conclusion
Everything in Strategy is very simple but that does not mean that everything is very easy. - Clausewitz, On War
A cohesive, co-ordinated and dynamic effort, time and Cost-Effective exercise, synergizing the entire spectrum of the elements of national power, in the pursuit of collective national interests.