The practice of strategy: from alexander the great to the present

The Practice of Strategy focuses on grand strategy and military strategy as practiced over an extended period of time and under very different circumstances, from the campaigns of Alexander the Great to insurgencies and counter-insurgencies in present-day Afghanistan and Iraq. The Practice of Strategy focuses on grand strategy and military strategy as practiced over an extended periodof time and under very different circumstances, from the campaigns of Alexander the Great to insurgencies and counter-insurgencies in present-day Afghanistan and Iraq. It presents strategy as it pertained not only to wars, campaigns,and battles, but also to times of peace that were over-shadowed by the threatof war. The book is intended to deepen understanding ofthe phenomena and logic of strategy by reconstructing the considerations and factors that shaped imperial and nation-state policies.Through historical case studies, the book sheds light on a fundamental question: is there a unity to all strategic experience? Adopting the working definition of strategy as 'the art of winning by purposely matching ends, ways and means,' these chapters deal with the intrinsic nature of war and strategy and the characteristics of a particular strategy in a given conflict. They show thata specific convergence of political objectives, operational schemes of manoeuvre, tactical moves andcountermoves, technological innovations and limitations, geographic settings,transient emotions and more made each conflict studied unique. Yet, despite the extraordinary variety of the people, circumstances, and motives discussed in this book, there is a strong case for continuity in the application ofstrategy from the olden days to the present.Together, these chapters reveal that grand strategy and military strategy have elements of continuity and change, art and science. They further suggest that the element of continuity lies in the essential nature of strategy and war, while the element of change lies in the character of individual strategies andwars. This excellent collection of essays is recommended reading for all those who seek to understand strategy and its use. It should be read by those struggling to act effectively with armed force in our present circumstances, and by those who try to comprehend why it is apparently so difficult to do so. Theessays show clearly the enduring need for strategy if one is to achieve ones purpose in the face of resistance. Now that we tend to act strategically in multinational groupingswhile policy remains with the state it is even more important to understand and act on these lessons. The complexity of contemporary security crises highlights the critical importance of an understanding of the theory and practice ofstrategy. This book is a clear thinking analysis which is both timely and relevant and I commend it to decision maker and general reader alike. The art of strategy is the art of generals. Too often it is confused with management, consulting or corporate administration. The Practice of Strategy is a welcome departure from that mode of thinking. There is, and always has been, a vital rolein the understanding of the true meaning of strategy. It is the process of achieving the aims of the state, either defending from aggression or exploitingopportunity. As Olsen and Gray put it: Strategy is a how to do it study. Never hasthat lesson been more welcome. INDICE: Introduction Part I: Ancient and Mediaeval The Campaigns of Alexander the Great The Roman Republic: From Monarchy to Julius Caesar The ByzantineEmpire: From Attila to the 4th Crusade The Hundred Years War, 1337-1453 Part II: Mediaeval and Modern The Ottomans: From Frontier Principality to Empire The Thirty Years War, 1618-1648 Britain and the 'Long' 18th Century, 1688-1815 Britain and the Napoleonic Wars Part III: Modern and Contemporary The American Civil War The First and Second World Wars The Nuclear Age and the Cold War Modern Irregular Warfare: Afghanistan and Iraq Conclusion Selected Bibliography Index

• ISBN: 978-0-19-960863-8
• Editorial: Oxford University
• Encuadernacion: Cartoné
• Páginas: 336
• Fecha Publicación: 27/10/2011
• Nº Volúmenes: 1
• Idioma: Inglés