ABSTRACT

Understanding Contemporary Strategy provides an accessible and comprehensive introduction to the theory and practice of modern strategy.

Covering all the main issues in the field, the book explores the major themes through a combination of classical and modern strategic theory, history and current practice. The book is split into three main sections:

  • Definition and Context : including discussion of the human, technological, intelligence, ethical and grand-strategic dimensions
  • Strategy in the Geographic Environments: land, sea, air and space
  • Contemporary Strategic Challenges: terrorism, insurgency and nuclear strategy.

Each chapter presents the reader with a succinct summary of the topic, but also provides a challenging analysis of current issues, supporting students with pedagogical features such as suggested further reading, boxed case studies and study questions.

This book will be essential reading for upper-level students of strategic studies, war studies, military history and international security.

chapter |8 pages

Introduction

part |1 pages

Part 1 Context

chapter 1|18 pages

Defining strategy

chapter 2|16 pages

The human dimension of strategy

chapter 3|23 pages

The ethics of war

chapter 5|14 pages

Intelligence

chapter 6|11 pages

Grand strategy

part |1 pages

Part 2 The geographic dimensions

chapter 7|23 pages

Land power

chapter 8|21 pages

Sea power

chapter 9|22 pages

Air power

chapter 10|19 pages

Space power

part |1 pages

Part 3 Contemporary strategic challenges

chapter 11|24 pages

Nuclear strategy

chapter 12|15 pages

Terrorism

chapter 13|19 pages

Insurgency and counterinsurgency