RMAs and the Dimensions of Strategy
Abstract
Strategy and war are holistic enterprises. U.S. strategic culture is wont to function taking one thing at a time on its own merits. Monochronic defense performance leads to a focus on only one or two dimensions of what is almost always a more complex challenge. Strategy has a variety of dimensions, each of which matters though differently from one historical case to another. Each has the potential to undo a strategic venture. The generic dimensions of strategy are ubiquitous and fixed, but their details often change. The grammar of strategy can altar radically, even to the point where one can argue that a revolution in military affairs (RMA) has occurred. Presently I identify 17 working dimensions of strategy, ethics, society, geography, politics, people, culture, theory, command (political and military), economics and logistics, organization (including defense policy and force planning), military preparation (administration, research and development, procurement, recruitment, training, and numbers or mass), operations, technology, information and intelligence, adversary, friction, chance, and uncertainty; and time. Some (like technology or command) figure more prominently than others, but none can be taken for granted.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 1998
- Accession Number
- ADA356343
Entities
People
- Colin S. Gray
Organizations
- National Defense University