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Studying Strategy:Traditional, Classical and Modern Approaches
Syed Muhammad Ali
Dimensions of Modern Strategy
Lecture 3
National Defence University2011
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What is Strategy?
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Why strategy is made?
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Who makes strategy?
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Defining Strategy
Strategy is the use of engagement for the object ofWar
(Clausewitz)
Strategy is the practical adaptation of the means placed at
a generals disposal for the attainment of the objects inWar
(Von Moltke)
Strategy is the art of distributing and applying militarymeans to fulfill the ends ofpolicy
(Liddell Hart) Strategy is the art of the dialectic of two opposing wills
using force to resolve theirdispute
(Andre Beaufre)
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Strategy: Traditional Approach
War (Clausewitz)
Generals - War (Von Moltke)
Military Means Liddell Hart Using force Dispute (Andre Beaufre)
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Strategy: Analyzing the origins..
Definitions of Clausewitz, Von Moltke, Liddle Hart andAndre Beaufre are all narrow, as they defined strategy interms of a relationship between military force and Warobjectives.
Origins: The word Strategy is derived from the Greek term for
Generalship.
ORIGIN late 15th cent. (originally denoting a military
ploy): from French stratagme, via Latin from Greekstratgma, from stratgeinbe a general,from stratgos,from stratos army+ agein to lead.
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Differentiating Traditional from the
modern..
Traditional Strategic thought reflected a hardpower/military-centric approach, whichfocused more on tactical and at most
operational strategy and use of military powerfor that purpose, confined both in terms oftime and space of the physical battlefield.
Considered political actions and processes asirrelevant or un-necessary to the objects ofwar.
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Strategy: The Modern ApproachTaking Strategy beyond Conventional Warfare
A. Considers military capability (hard power) one of variousmeans available to the leadership to achieve policy objectives,
beyond the phenomenon of conventional warfare. (Role of
nuclear weapons)
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.
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Strategy: The Modern ApproachReinforcing and in some cases Substituting Hard Power
with Soft Power
D. Non-combat roles for military such as humanitarian role, UNPeacekeeping missions, rescue and relief efforts after naturaldisasters, Pakmilitarys role in Operation Gulf Storm etc.
E. Interchanging roles of civil-military: Employing Hard powerthrough civilian organization and soft power through military.Compare CIAs role (civilian organization) vs US militarys role inPakistan after 2010 floods, legality of use of force, Abbottabadoperation.
F. More direct co-relation between Industrialization and warfare.(Growing role of technology and economy, both in terms of meansand ends of warfare)
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Strategy: The Modern ApproachSynergizing not just capabilities but also the political will
Cohesive goals-setting, policy-making process and system
G. Necessitated closer civil-military cohesion for strategicplanning in terms of national security policy, means and
goals, requiring review and re-defining of civil-militaryrelationship. (NSC, NCA, US Overseas nuclear weaponsdeployment policy etc.)
H. Appreciation of a broad range ofdimensions ofwarfare-
(e.g; Deterrence, dissuasion, compellence, embargo, No-kinetic warfare, ECM/ECCM/EW, Psy Ops, StrategicCommunications, propaganda, Public diplomacy, role ofmedia and social-networking tools, Cyber Warfare, Spacemilitarization/HUMINT/ELINT/HAARP etc. Chinese,
Iranian nuclear plant examples.)
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Strategy: The Modern ApproachNew Options, New challenges
I. Role of diverse elements of power (both Hard &Soft, identify a few)
J. MORE OPTIONS: Created more time, space,opportunities and policy options for the leadership
in terms of the pursuit of national interestsK. MORE CHALLENGES: RCT/Cost-benefit analysis
incorporated costs not earlier recognized (e.g;political cost, political image at local, national and
international levels, voters reaction, status,credibility, international diplomatic support,economic implications, allies/ major powers likelyposture, position and possible reaction)
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Strategy: The Modern ApproachRedefining Power beyond military force
Strategy is ultimately about effectivelyexercisingpower
(Gregory D. Foster)
Strategy must now be understood as nothing lessthan the overall plan for utilizing the capacity forarmed coercion in conjunction with economic,
diplomatic and psychological instruments ofpowerto support foreign policy most effectively,by overt, covert and tacit means.
(Robert Osgood)
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Modern Strategy: A Plan/Process
Strategy is a plan of action designed in order toachieve some end; a purpose together with asystem of measures for its accomplishment.
J.C. Wylie
Strategy is a process of constant adaptation tothe shifting conditions and circumstances in aworld where chance, uncertainty and ambiguitydominate.
W.Murray and M. Grimslay
S F h h d f
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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)
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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
withfinesse
(Kissinger, 1957)
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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
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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
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Modern Approach:An Inter-disciplinary Approach
Strategic studies, although dealing with militarypower has no clear parameters in terms of aspecific discipline of study.
It heavily relies upon:
Arts
Science
Statistics Mathematics
Social Sciences
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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, LawrenceFreedman are all Social Scientists
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Bernard Brodie
Strategy as Science: Taking strategy beyond
tactics and technology
Proposed A Methodological and Scientific
Approach to Strategy similar to Economics
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20th Century Civil-military strategic
debate
1940-1980: Civilian strategists dominate the strategicaffairs debate
Post-1980: Realization that academics wereoverlooking the capabilities and limitations of militaryunits and operations in their analysis.
Combining civilian and military thoughts,traditions and processes:
IfStrategy is to integrate policy and operations then it
must be devised by not only be politically sensitivesoldiers but also military sensitive civilians.-Richard K. Betts
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Evolution of Multi-Dimensional
Strategic thought
Strategy consisted of moral, physical,
mathematical, geographical and statistical
elements. (Clausewitz)
Social, logistical, operational, technological
dimensions of strategy. (Michael Howard)
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A holistic Contemporary Approach
Strategy consists of a broad, complex, pervasive andinter-penetrating set of dimensions, focusing on people,society, culture, politics and ethics, economics,logistics, organization, military administration,information, intelligence, strategic theory and
technology and their role in operations in whichcommand is exercised over all of the above, against acertain adversary, in a certain geographical and timeconstrained environment of friction.
The study of strategy is incomplete if it is considered inthe absence of any of these inter-related dimensions
- Colin Gray
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Political
Science
International
Relations
Security
Studies
Strategic
Studies
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Conclusion
Everything in Strategy is very simple but
that does not mean that everything is very
easy.- Clausewitz, On War
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Modern Strategy: A Personal Perspective
Modern Strategy: A multi-disciplinary
Approach
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.