Advanced strategic planning and analysis support contract with the national institute for public policy, contract no. The immodesty, even arrogance, of this endeavor is best conveyed through an anecdote about a meeting between hannibal barca and an. While history shows his teachings were popular amongst statesmen, it is in independent indias policies that one sees a. Gray is a political scientist with broad interests in national security policy, strategic theory, and military history. Gray 16 the german 1918 offensives a case study in the operational level of war.
Analyze the airpower theories of colin gray based on wintons model. He also divides the cold war into separate periods, defined by what he considers its three strategically decisive moments. My aim is to relate the nature of strategy to the character of its artistic application and to the unknowable context of the 21st century. In addition, he is a senior associate to the national institute for public policy. The first generation of theory strikes back takes the scholarly argument about the study, and meaning, of strategic culture to a new stage. This book is not an intellectual autobiography, but for me it is a landmark work that represents my best effort to share understanding of my chosen field of scholarly interest at the thirtyyear point in my ca. This edition explores both the enduring and historical issues which have shaped the study of strategy and the contemporary issues that dominate today s headlines. Anyone wishing to have a truly firm grounding in questions of war and strategy cannot do without colin s. Writing at the tail end of the golden decade of modern american strategic thought 195566, thomas c. Gray is professor of international politics and strategic studies at the university of reading, england, and senior fellow at the national institute for public policy in fairfax, virginia. Amitai etzionis communitarianism offers an attractive but impractical vision. Recent books include strategy and defence planning 2014, airpower for strategic effect 2012, war, peace and international relations, 2nd edn 2011 and the strategy bridge 2010. Modern strategy explains the permanent nature, but ever changing character, of strategy in light of the whole strategic experience of the twentieth century.
Today, it is hard to settle upon a central organising strategic concept for the. Revolutions in military affairs and the evidence of history. First, it believes that historical truth can be found, or at least approached. Grays latest book aims to examine in depth five aspects of strategy intellect, morality, culture, geography, and technology and poses important questions around technology, geography, and ethics. Revised and updated, this fourth edition focuses on strategic issues and gives a comprehensive overview of security issues and contemporary debates. Getting large field forces to france in time to prevent an allied collapse was the driving strate. This edition explores both the enduring and historical issues which have shaped the study of strategy and the contemporary issues that dominate todays headlines. All views are the authors alone and do not reflect those of. He has published twnetyeight books and innumerable journal articles. The firstever introduction to the theory of strategy.
A graduate of the universities of manchester and oxford, dr. Strategy in the contemporary world presents an introduction to the role of military power in todays world. Gray s latest book aims to examine in depth five aspects of strategy intellect, morality, culture, geography, and technology and poses important questions around technology, geography, and ethics. The book is a major contribution to the general theory of strategy. Second, it believes in the utility of ambitious the. This article is adapted from a chapter in my forthcoming book modern strategy oxford, 1999. Reading it is no walk in the park, but, then again, clausewitz and sun tzu were not exactly known for clear writing and quicklygrasped concepts, either. That said, modern strategy is well sown with personal pronouns.
Natos strategy was highly debateable, and its military means were substantially inadequate, but it knew what it was about politically. Strategy in the contemporary world presents an introduction to the role of military power in today s world. Defence planning, surprise, and prediction professor of. This book is not an intellectual autobiography, but for me it is a landmark work that represents my best effort to share understanding of my chosen field of scholarly interest at the thirtyyear point in my career. Theory for practice and perspectives on strategy and perspectives on strategy colin s. The uses and value of strategic sea 1994, explorations in strategy 2nd edn, 1998, and the second nuclear age forthcoming 1999. Gray national institute for public policy prepared under. My aim is to relate the nature of strategy to the character of its artistic application. Gray skip to main content accessibility help we use cookies to distinguish you from other users and to provide you with a better experience on our websites. Colin gray is professor of international politics and director of the centre for security studies at the university of hull. A modern airpower theorist whispers to a wall medium. Gray is professor of international politics and strategic studies at the university of reading, england.
Educated at the university of manchester ba, economics, 1965 and at lincoln college, oxford university dphil, international politics, 1970, he is. View volume 7, issue 1 digital edition download pdf. Military strategy magazine the evolution of infinity journal. It is immodest and selfindulgent to use the personal pronoun in a work with pretensions to scholarship. His twentyone books include modern strategy 1999 and another bloody century 2005. He is the author of seventeen books, including modern strategy and strategy for chaos. About the author 1999 colin gray is professor of international politics and director of the centre for security studies at the university of hull. Colin gray s modern strategy is essentially an attempt to update and amend the strategic theory of clausewitz in response to the developments of the last century and to make his strategic lessons more accessible to modern readers by illuminating its main points in light of 20th century events that those readers are likely to already be. The 21st century security environment and the future of war. Gray, and perspectives on strategy is no exception. Gray is professor emeritus of strategic studies at the university of reading, uk. It is an essential and enduring feature of human history that is here to stay. He is the author of numerous books on strategy, including the navy in the postcold war world.
American cold war of 194591, colin gray posits seven categories of context. Gray born 1943 is a britishamerican strategic thinker and professor of international relations and strategic studies at the university of reading, where he is the director of the centre for strategic studies. Modern strategy is a book important to my understanding of the history of the 20th century. Explicating the european unions grand strategy through the articulation of discourse theory. In addition, he is a senior associate to the national institute for public. Nielsen book data summary strategy in the contemporary world looks at the development of strategy, considering the role of military power in the contemporary world, and assessing the future of strategy in light of fastpaced technological change. The new edition has been updated to reflect the changing structure of global politics and rapid technological developments. The washington times, march 2000 modern strategy is his finest effort to date. Colin gray s modern strategy is essentially an attempt to update and amend the strategic theory of clausewitz in response to the developments of the last century and to make his strategic lessons more accessible to modern readers by illuminating its main points in light of 20th century events that those readers are likely to already be familiar with. The contemporary world canadainthecontemporaryworld strategy in contemporary world strategy in the contemporary world pdf strategy in the contemporary world gandhi and contemporary world book pdf the contemporary world by abinales and claudio india and contemporary world ncert modern indian history. The global threats that he cites as engines for a communitarian future are not convincing as the triggers for epochal benign change in human security arrangements. Modern strategy is a major contribution to our understanding of strategic theory and practice. Professor colin gray joined reading university in 2000.
The washington times, march 2000 over the years, no writer has addressed the topic of strategy more comprehensively or systematically than colin gray. Gray this study rests upon two vital assumptions, both of them anathema to postmodern minds. Colin grays explanation of the century in terms of strategic activity, foreign policy, and war is. Written by leading strategist professor colin gray, this textbook provides students with a good grounding in the contribution of war to the development of the modern world, from the preindustrial era to the postindustrial age of international terrorism and smart weapons. Provides a short and accessible introduction to a key component of any higherlevel strategic studies course. This article discusses the teachings of kautilya as compiled in his book the arthashastra and argues that his ideas are important for the understanding of indian strategic culture. Gray abstract this book focuses on grand strategy and military strategy as practised over an extended period of time and under very different circumstances, from the campaigns of alexander the great to insurgencies and counter. The events that this book analyses occurred over 2,300 years ago. Gray russians should never be allowed to believe that a nuclear emphasis could be a source of strategic advantage. Gray, worldrenowned scholar of strategic thought, discusses the meaning of strategy and its importance for politicians and the military as a means of achieving desired outcomes in complex, uncertain conditions. Gray this study rests upon two vital assumptions, both of them anathema to post modern minds.
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