ABSTRACT

This book examines the subject of strategy and its relationship with politics.

Despite the fact that strategy is always the product of political process, the relationship between the two concepts and their ancillary activities has scarcely been touched by scholars. This book corrects that serious deficiency, and explains the high relevance of political factors for matters of general defence. Each chapter aims to show how and why strategy and politics interact and how this interaction has had significant consequences historically. Neither strategy nor politics can make sense if considered alone. Strategy requires direction that can only be provided by political process, while politics cannot be implemented without strategy.

In summary, this volume will explain:

  • what strategy is (and is not)
  • why strategy is essential
  • what strategy does and how it does it
  • how strategy is made and executed

Written by a leading scholar and former practitioner, this book will be essential reading for all students of military strategy, strategic studies, security studies and war and conflict studies.

chapter |9 pages

Introduction

The argument

chapter 1|13 pages

Politics, Power, and Security

chapter 3|14 pages

War and Warfare

chapter 4|14 pages

Theory for Practice

chapter 5|15 pages

Making strategy

chapter 6|16 pages

History and geography

chapter 7|16 pages

Culture and Circumstance

chapter 8|15 pages

Civil–Military Relations

chapter 9|15 pages

Politics and defence planning

chapter 11|6 pages

Strategic future