ABSTRACT
Whenever we undertake the study of a new area of inquiry there is a temptation to jump straight in with both feet; to explore the latest research, ideas and debates; to identify the currently fashionable figures, and begin to adopt the language and jargon of the day. However, the more conscientious student will resist such an approach. Far better to spend some time exploring the history of the subject matter in order to appreciate where the ideas have come from, how they have developed, and why. By exploring the past we come to a more detailed and more sophisticated appreciation of the present. As such, do not be tempted to skip this chapter nor see it as simple filler before we get on to the juicier parts. Spend some time exploring the history of strategy and you will be rewarded with a deeper understanding of the subject matter. You will come to understand why strategists talk in such a ‘macho’ aggressive, even militaristic, language. You will better understand why certain dominant ideas within the strategy field rose to prominence while others fell by the wayside, and importantly, you will know why and how they developed and therefore will be able to consider their contemporary relevance within a contextual frame of time and space. Surprisingly, few strategy texts spend much time thinking about the history of their subject matter nor of locating particular tools, frameworks and concepts within the economic, political and social context in which they originally emerged. Strategy suffers from what Kornberger (2013: 1059) calls a ‘historical amnesia resulting in a shared ahistoricism.’ We hope to address those shortcomings in this chapter.
