Forging An American Grand Strategy: Securing a Path Through a Complex Future - Eight Myths, Department of Homeland Security Approach, President's Role, Human Thinking, Lessons from Singapore

Professionally converted for accurate flowing-text e-book format reproduction, this unique book examines grand strategy and the assistance such a strategy makes to the development and articulation of the National Security Strategy. This is the focus of much of the curriculum at all the war colleges within the Pentagon. What is the country's grand strategy? Do we need one? If one does not exist, then in a world of complexity and globalization, what is the context that we will use to make decisions in the absence of a grand strategy that guides? How can the Nation plan in a proactive sense to be ready for the future, let alone shape one, without such a framework? The papers presented at this conference represent a sampling of the diversity of opinions on this topic. We hope that it will give the reader some issues to consider.
Chapter 1 - Introduction * Chapter 2 - Grand Strategy * Chapter 3 - Educating Strategists: Some Discomforting Contradictions * Chapter 4 - Eight Myths about American Grand Strategy * Chapter 5 - Department of Homeland Security Approach to Strategy * Chapter 6 - Forging Grand Strategy: The President's Role * Chapter 7 - Grand Strategy and Human Thinking * Chapter 8 - Designing the U.S. President's Ability to Make Strategy * Chapter 9 - The Need for Grand Strategy Development: Lessons from the Project on National Security Reform and Singapore * Chapter 10 - Postscript

For more than 2 decades, it has been evident to many that the United States needs a new framework for a grand strategy, especially since the "containment" strategy of George F. Kennan that shaped U.S. policy during the Cold War is no longer relevant. But, what kind of framework do we need? Most commonly, grand strategy is framed in the context of warfare, or at least conflict among nations. There have been exceptions, and the focus of this symposium was not on warfare or preparation for war. Our intent was to promote a discussion about the elements of and prospect for a grand strategy for America.

Over the millennia, grand strategies have evolved as the complexities of the known world grew. Rulers have created and executed grand strategies for their nations through modern times. It is possible that a 21st century grand strategy will be very different than past models since our understanding of the world has and will change our understanding of how complex systems, including nations, behave. The empowerment of individuals or small groups with new technologies and communication tools can extend beyond anything imagined outside the realm of science fiction. Other factors may come into play as well. Some would also argue that, in a democracy, it is not possible to attain the necessary consensus to craft and implement a national grand strategy in the absence of an existential threat. Recent political discourse lends some credence to that line of reasoning.