Strategic Theory for The 21st Century: Little Book on Big Strategy

The word strategy pervades American conversation and is most often used as a general term for a plan, a concept, a course of action, or a vision of the direction in which to proceed. Such casual use of the term to describe nothing more than what we would like to do next is inappropriate and belies the complexity of true strategy and strategic thinking. This little book talks about big strategy, strategy at the highest levels of the nation-state. It is applicable to grand strategy, national security strategy, national military strategy, and regional or theater strategy. The monograph does not propose a strategy for the United States; rather, it provides a framework for considering strategy at any of the levels mentioned above. It is an examination of theory, exploring those aspects of strategy that appear to have universal application. The theory also may have application to the strategy of nonstate actors, institutions, and businesses, but the perspective offered here focuses on the nation-state.