In Harmonium

Posted By Marc on September 18, 2009

My friends Adam Elkus and Mark Safranski just released what is one of the more insightful, and scathing, critiques of US “Grand Strategy”.  The short article is entitled Theory, Policy, and Strategy: A Conceptual Muddle (abstract | PDF) and focuses on one simple observation: grand strategy for the US is now being driven by operational tactics.

Many of the issues they raise parallel concerns that I have had for some time now and, especially, both the issue of a conceptual “muddle” and the reactive nature of US foreign policy.  While this may be endemic to democracies, certainly Aristophanes lampooned the Athenians enough about it, it requires some serious thought and, more importantly, some serious action at the social level.

Category: Epistemology, Social Theatre
Tags: Grand Strategy