The politicization of intelligence products is a recurring issue that can have extreme affects upon how foreign policy is conducted, how military operations and orders of battle are planned, and how intelligence is presented to policymakers. The U.S. Naval War College describes politicization, “as the shading of analysis to fit prevailing policy and politics,” while … Continue reading Presidential Delegates: The Politicization of Intelligence and Political Appointees
Following the Cold War, many scholars of international relations argued that major interstate war was to be relegated to the dustbin of history with the advent of nuclear weapons. The stakes at play in war were simply too high with nuclear Armageddon lurking around the corner. The world would be one miscalculation away from … Continue reading The Failure of Modern Strategists
Cold War II – A sequel or something new? Devolving US-China relations have seen experts declare that the Second Cold War is upon us. Having won the first Cold War, American hegemony has since declined since its ‘unipolar moment’, however only 30 years later is it reasonable to suggest that the West has learnt nothing … Continue reading Cold War II – A sequel or something new?
By Alan Cunningham Misinformation was at the heart of the 2016 Presidential Election and has been a recurring problem for governments and the public across the globe since then. With the election of President Joe Biden, the proliferation of misinformation and conspiracy theories online has grown substantially. Even during the 2020 U.S. Presidential election, it … Continue reading The Information War: How the Biden Administration Can Deal with Misinformation Online
The purpose of this short essay is to take a critical glance at the stance and strategy China and the United States is currently undertaking in East Africa. China is undertaking a grand strategy in Africa to incentivize economic and political cooperation and development of the developing nations throughout the continent. Using its newly acquired … Continue reading China’s Role in East Africa
In this #DefineStrategy entry, Edouard Cousins offers his thoughts on grand strategy and the bridge between military strategy and policy. “Grand strategy is the light on the horizon that provides an aiming mark for the nation, guiding it towards its best interests through turbulent seas.“Ed Cousins “A grand strategy is a purposeful and coherent set … Continue reading #DEFINESTRATEGY. On Grand Strategy
In this #DefineStrategy submission, Jarrod Brook offers his thoughts on how best to do strategy, as well as how best to articulate it. "Strategy is ultimately a narrative that guides our decision making and the execution of campaigns"Jarrod Brook Defining strategy is a very intimidating question, and I am not sure I am as steeped … Continue reading #DEFINESTRATEGY. A narrative that guides
In this #DefineStrategy entry, Philip Dolitsky provides his observations on Colin S. Gray's definition, contrasted with comments from Hew Strachan on Clausewitz. "Strategy is the employment of force and the threat of force in a dialectical battle with an adversary to compel the enemy to do our will for the ultimate purpose of securing a … Continue reading #DefineStrategy. Coloring In the Gray Zones: On Colin S. Gray’s Definition of Strategy
Phillip Dolitsky recently critiqued my four part series of articles titled “How to Eliminate Nuclear Weapons” here on Chesterfield Strategy (see “Why Nuclear Weapons are Here to Stay.”) Dolitsky’s response is well researched, cogent, and clear. He is an able scholar, but we do have some points of disagreement. People often think that because I … Continue reading Why Nuclear Weapons Are Going to Go
The more one reads about strategic studies and strategic history, the more one finds that the old Latin adage, Si vis pacem, para bellum, has rightly dominated the minds of the world’s greatest statesmen and strategists. In a world that has known war longer than it has known peace, strategists are obligated to think through … Continue reading Why Nuclear Weapons Are Here to Stay
