Also, speaking as a strategist, i have a professional dislike for impossible. 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. 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. American cold war of 194591, colin gray posits seven categories of context. The roots of american grand strategy american grand strategy cannot be understood without a historical grounding. The general theory of strategy 35 the general theory for education 40 policy, strategy, tactics. The uses and value of strategic sea 1994, explorations in strategy 2nd edn, 1998, and the second nuclear age forthcoming 1999. The 21st century security environment and the future of war. Modern strategy explains the permanent nature, but ever changing character, of strategy in light of the whole strategic experience of the. Modern strategic studies largely were forged and prosecuted by schol. Modern strategy explains the permanent nature, but ever changing character, of strategy in light of the whole strategic experience of the twentieth century. On the road to total war acw and german unification. First, it believes that historical truth can be found, or at least approached. 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.
Professor colin gray on clausewitz and the modern strategic world. Gray december 29, 1943 february 27, 2020 was a britishamerican writer on geopolitics and professor of international relations and strategic studies at the university of reading, where he was the director of the centre for strategic studies. Clausewitz, and sun tzu, or the more modern theories of b. 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.
In addition, he is a senior associate to the national institute for public. 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. A modern airpower theorist whispers to a wall medium. Colin gray is professor of international politics and director of the centre for security studies at the university of hull. This article is adapted from a chapter in my forthcoming book modern strategy oxford. See the discussion of the dimensions of strategy in colin s. All however, when measured against the informed distillation of historical lessons learned and the benefits of. Modern strategy is a major contribution to our understanding of strategic theory and practice. Gray and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. And that was enough for the alliance to mature in the light of events. Writing at the tail end of the golden decade of modern american strategic thought 195566, thomas c. This lesson examines the contributions to the theory of airpower by the recognized strategist colin gray. Gray modern strategy book is about the theory and practice of the use and threat use of organized force for political purposes in the twentieth century. 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.
It is an essential and enduring feature of human history that is here to stay. Anyone wishing to have a truly firm grounding in questions of war and strategy cannot do without colin s. The trouble with the hybrid war concept is that it encourages the innovative theorist to venture without limit into the swamp of inclusivity, indeed of a form of encyclopedism. Modern strategy is a book important to my understanding of the history of the 20th century. Liddellhart, colin gray and edward luttwak, an explicit and standalone application of any one of these theories to modern warfare is not readily discernable. The second nuclear age the navy in the postcold war world. Gray this study rests upon two vital assumptions, both of them anathema to post modern minds. Defence planning, surprise, and prediction professor of. Colin gray, who defined it in the strategy bridge as the direction and use. This book contents the dimensions of strategy, strategic culture as context, nuclear weapons in strategic history and patterns in strategic experience.
Modern strategy explains the permanent nature, but ever changing cha. The author explores the rma hypothesis both theoretically and historically. The book is a major contribution to the general theory of strategy. Strategic and combat studies institute previous scsi. The firstever introduction to the theory of strategy. Gray, professor of international politics and strategic studies at the university of reading, england, and senior fellow at the national institute for public policy, is the uthor of numerous books, including modern strategy and strategy for chaos. Gray national institute for public policy prepared under. Checking out, once again, will provide you something brandnew. Historians and social scientists alike have written widely about strategic thought, process, and. Mackubin thomas owens strategy has long been the subject of scholarly study and policy analysis.
Gray modern strategy explains the permanent nature, but ever changing character, of strategy in light of the whole strategic experience of the twentieth century. Colin gray is professor of international politics and strategic studies at the. In this volume, professor colin gray develops and applies the theory and scholarship on the allegedly historical practice of the revolution in military affairs rma, in order to improve our comprehension of how and why strategy works. Gray, worldrenowned scholar ofstrategic thought, discusses the meaning of strategy and itsimportance for politicians and the military as a means of achievingdesired outcomes in complex, uncertain conditions. He also divides the cold war into separate periods, defined by what he considers its three strategically decisive moments. Something that you have no idea after that exposed to be renowneded with the publication modern strategy, by colin s. It is immodest and selfindulgent to use the personal pronoun in a work with pretensions to scholarship. Some expertise or lesson that re obtained from checking out publications is uncountable. Revolutions in military affairs and the evidence of history. Today, it is hard to settle upon a central organising strategic concept for the. Colin gray s explanation of the century in terms of strategic activity, foreign policy, and war is fascinating and instructional. That said, modern strategy is well sown with personal pronouns.
He is the author of numerous books on strategy, including the navy in the postcold war world. It presents strategy as it pertained not only to wars, campaigns, and battles but also to times of peace that were overshadowed. Contemporary strategy in historical perspective cambridge, uk. It is an essential andenduring feature of human history that is here to stay. The washington times, march 2000 over the years, no writer has addressed the topic of strategy more comprehensively or systematically than colin gray. Gray, and perspectives on strategy is no exception, writes julia muravska. The first generation of theory strikes back takes the scholarly argument about the study, and meaning, of strategic culture to a new stage. Provides a short and accessible introduction to a key component of any higherlevel strategic studies course. 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. Professor colin gray on clausewitz and the modern strategic world professor colin gray on mackinder a defence of the heartland professor sir michael howard on military history and the history of war professor christopher greenwood the case for intervention in iraq general sir hugh beach the concept of preventive war isbn. The washington times, march 2000 modern strategy is his finest effort to date.
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