Strategy and Policy

1. Strategy and Policy 8802A

2. Course Overview (Composition and Organization) Part I L1: Grand Strategy: Theory and Practice L2: National Security Decision Making L3: Economics and Policy L4: Intelligence and Policy L5: Total Force L6: National Strategic Planning Part II L7: WWII: Pre-war Strategy and Planning L8: WWII: Why the Allies Won L9: National Security Strategy during the Cold War (with Vietnam Case Study) L10: The UN and NATO in Post-Cold War Era L11: Post-Cold War Contemp. Issues: China L12 Post-Cold War Contemp. Issues: Middle East L1: Grand Strategy: Theory and Practice L2: National Security Decision Making L3: Economics and Policy L4: Intelligence and Policy L5: Total Force L6: National Strategic Planning L7: WWII: Pre-war Strategy and Planning L8: WWII: Why the Allies Won L9: National Security Strategy during the Cold War (with Vietnam Case Study) L10: The UN and NATO in Post-Cold War Era L11: Post-Cold War Contemp. Issues: China L12 Post-Cold War Contemp. Issues: Middle East L1: Grand Strategy: Theory and Practice L2: National Security Decision Making L3: Economics and Policy L4: Intelligence and Policy L5: Total Force L6: National Strategic Planning L7: WWII: Pre-war Strategy and Planning L8: WWII: Why the Allies Won L9: National Security Strategy during the Cold War (with Vietnam Case Study) L10: The UN and NATO in Post-Cold War Era L11: Post-Cold War Contemp. Issues: China L12 Post-Cold War Contemp. Issues: Middle East

3. Course Overview (Composition and Organization) Multimedia DOCNET Digitized lectures Video interviews Radio-style interview (audio CD included) Exam linkage to educational objectives (EOs) Cover EOs Cover material on the exam Multimedia DOCNET Digitized lectures Video interviews Radio-style interview (audio CD included) Exam linkage to educational objectives (EOs) Cover EOs Cover material on the exam Multimedia DOCNET Digitized lectures Video interviews Radio-style interview (audio CD included) Exam linkage to educational objectives (EOs) Cover EOs Cover material on the exam

4. Strategy and Policy (8802A) Lesson 1 Grand Strategy: Theory and Practice

5. Agenda Strategic Constants and Norms International Relations Theory Instruments/Elements of National Power The Limits of Military Power Strategy as a Concept and a Process National Interests The National Security Strategy (NSS) 2002 Discuss a series of topics: Strategic Constants and Norms International Relations Theory Instruments/Elements of National Power The Limits of Military Power Strategy as a Concept and a Process National Interests The National Security Strategy (NSS) 2002 Discuss a series of topics: Strategic Constants and Norms International Relations Theory Instruments/Elements of National Power The Limits of Military Power Strategy as a Concept and a Process National Interests The National Security Strategy (NSS) 2002

6. Requirements Strategic Environment Means Elements of national power

7. Requirement 1 The environment Objective 1. Describe the various characteristics that make up the strategic environment. Objective 2. Explain International Relations (IR) theory and relate it to our understanding of important security issues that shape strategy.

8. Strategic Constants and Norms Physical Environment National Character Relationship between war and state Balance of power mechanism

9. Strategic Constants and Norms(Strategic Characteristics) Physical Environment: Traditional elements: land forms, terrain, ocean and seas, climate Spatial elements: natural resources, lines of communication Political, economic, and social makeup of a nation results in part from physical environment Location of international borders (land-locked vs. island nation)

10. Strategic Constants and Norms(Strategic Characteristics) National Character: Character derived from: location, language, culture, religion, societal politics, historical circumstances Always evolving Psychological profile” of each nation or political group involved in the conflict: Enemies Allies Potential enemies and allies One’s own nation National Character: Character derived from: location, language, culture, religion, societal politics, historical circumstances-- everything that contributes to the makeup and functioning of a nation Always evolving Strategists must consider the “psychological profile” of each nation or political group involved in the conflict to include: Enemies Allies Potential enemies and allies One’s own nation National Character: Character derived from: location, language, culture, religion, societal politics, historical circumstances-- everything that contributes to the makeup and functioning of a nation Always evolving Strategists must consider the “psychological profile” of each nation or political group involved in the conflict to include: Enemies Allies Potential enemies and allies One’s own nation

11. Strategic Constants and Norms(Strategic Characteristics) The Relationship between War and the State: A state will almost always become involved States are normally replaced by other states or groups Generally, a state is remarkably tough and enduring Context of the state system(s) No political entity is permanent The Relationship between War and the State: A state will almost always become involved either in self-defense or in assertions of its monopoly on the legitimate use of violence States are normally replaced by other states or groups willing to assume the fundamental function of the state Generally, a state is remarkably tough and enduring Political movements and individual states and governments that wage war evolve and change, therefore, any conflict or strategic problem must be addressed in the context of the state system(s) of those involved A strategist must remember, however…there is nothing permanent about any political entityThe Relationship between War and the State: A state will almost always become involved either in self-defense or in assertions of its monopoly on the legitimate use of violence States are normally replaced by other states or groups willing to assume the fundamental function of the state Generally, a state is remarkably tough and enduring Political movements and individual states and governments that wage war evolve and change, therefore, any conflict or strategic problem must be addressed in the context of the state system(s) of those involved A strategist must remember, however…there is nothing permanent about any political entity

12. Strategic Constants and Norms(Strategic Characteristics) The Balance of Power Mechanism: “status quo” in the distribution of power no one dominant entity or group of entities more than one political power center Breaks down if: One or more of the participants rebel A power vacuum occurs The Balance of Power Mechanism: Is intended to maintain a “status quo” in the distribution of power Describes a system in which alliances shift in order to ensure no one entity or group of entities becomes dominant “Balance of power” refers to any system involving more than one political power center (can be global) Breaks down if: One or more of the participants rebel against system A power vacuum occurs when there is no authority capable of maintaining order in some geographic area The Balance of Power Mechanism: Is intended to maintain a “status quo” in the distribution of power Describes a system in which alliances shift in order to ensure no one entity or group of entities becomes dominant “Balance of power” refers to any system involving more than one political power center (can be global) Breaks down if: One or more of the participants rebel against system A power vacuum occurs when there is no authority capable of maintaining order in some geographic area

13. International Relations Theory Main schools Realism Idealism/liberalism Characteristics Problem Actors Characteristics

14. International Relations Theory Realism: Central problem: war and the use of force Central actors: states interacting with other states ( Anarchic system of states Hobbs, “Just as stormy weather does not mean perpetual rain, so a state of war does not mean constant war.” Thucydides, “The strong do what they have the power to do and the weak accept what they have to accept” (Penguin translation). View: International politics is a jungle dominated by the exercise of power and power politics Central problem of international politics is war and the use of force Central actors are states interacting with other states (anarchic system of states) International system interpreted in terms of anarchy Hobbs, “Just as stormy weather does not mean perpetual rain, so a state of war does not mean constant war.” Thucydides, “The strong do what they have the power to do and the weak accept what they have to accept” (Penguin translation). International politics is a jungle dominated by the exercise of power and power politics Central problem of international politics is war and the use of force Central actors are states interacting with other states (anarchic system of states) International system interpreted in terms of anarchy Hobbs, “Just as stormy weather does not mean perpetual rain, so a state of war does not mean constant war.” Thucydides, “The strong do what they have the power to do and the weak accept what they have to accept” (Penguin translation). International politics is a jungle dominated by the exercise of power and power politics

15. International Relations Theory Idealism/Liberalism: Views a global society that functions alongside the states and sets part of the context for states Trade crosses borders, people have global contacts, and international institutions (UN, NATO, etc.) create a context in which the realist view of pure anarchy is insufficient International system: community State of war focuses only on extreme situations and misses the growth of economic interdependence and the evolution of a transnational global society Views international politics as a garden Idealism/Liberalism: Views a global society that functions alongside the states and sets part of the context for states Trade crosses borders, people have global contacts, and international institutions (UN, NATO, etc.) create a context in which the realist view of pure anarchy is insufficient International system interpreted in terms of community State of war focuses only on extreme situations and misses the growth of economic interdependence and the evolution of a transnational global society Views international politics as a garden in which peaceful cooperation can be cultivated Idealism/Liberalism: Views a global society that functions alongside the states and sets part of the context for states Trade crosses borders, people have global contacts, and international institutions (UN, NATO, etc.) create a context in which the realist view of pure anarchy is insufficient International system interpreted in terms of community State of war focuses only on extreme situations and misses the growth of economic interdependence and the evolution of a transnational global society Views international politics as a garden in which peaceful cooperation can be cultivated

16. Requirement 2 Objective 3. Describe how national-level strategy and policy incorporates the instruments of national power as a means of exercising power and influence.

17. Instruments/Elements of National Power Diplomatic/political Informational Military Economic

18. Instruments/Elements of National Power Diplomatic/Political: The use of a country’s international diplomatic skills and political position to achieve national interests Informational: The use of a country’s information systems to achieve national interests Military: The extent a country’s armed forces can be used to achieve national interests. Economic: The application of a country’s material resources to achieve national interests Diplomatic/Political: The use of a country’s international diplomatic skills and political position to achieve national interests Informational: The use of a country’s information systems to achieve national interests Military: The extent a country’s armed forces can be used to achieve national interests. Economic: The application of a country’s material resources to achieve national interests Diplomatic/Political: The use of a country’s international diplomatic skills and political position to achieve national interests Informational: The use of a country’s information systems to achieve national interests Military: The extent a country’s armed forces can be used to achieve national interests. Economic: The application of a country’s material resources to achieve national interests

19. The Limits of Military Power Political and psychological limits Legitimacy and the credible capacity to coerce Physical limits Political and psychological limits: Vietnam; hearts and minds of the S. Vietnamese population to a corrupt, alien Saigon government Legitimacy and the credible capacity to coerce: The greater the legitimacy of an act, as defined and perceived by the target of an act of coercion, the lesser the amount of force is needed to make that act of coercion effective Physical limits: A Division should not be given a task requiring a corps Military forces/units require logistical support and sustainment and cannot effectively or safely exceed their “operational reach” Political and psychological limits: Vietnam; hearts and minds of the S. Vietnamese population to a corrupt, alien Saigon government Legitimacy and the credible capacity to coerce: The greater the legitimacy of an act, as defined and perceived by the target of an act of coercion, the lesser the amount of force is needed to make that act of coercion effective Physical limits: A Division should not be given a task requiring a corps Military forces/units require logistical support and sustainment and cannot effectively or safely exceed their “operational reach”

20. The Limits of Military Power Culminating points Strategic and operational culminating points: Culminating points short of victory: Strategic and operational culminating points: These are reached for reasons pertaining to terrain, exhaustion, unfavorable combat power ratios, and logistics These can be either at the strategic or operational levels of war Culminating points short of victory: When the maximum war effort, progress, and/or success of a country/coalition (or the maximum effort that it is willing to make) reaches its peak short of victory Strategic and operational culminating points: These are reached for reasons pertaining to terrain, exhaustion, unfavorable combat power ratios, and logistics These can be either at the strategic or operational levels of war Culminating points short of victory: When the maximum war effort, progress, and/or success of a country/coalition (or the maximum effort that it is willing to make) reaches its peak short of victory

21. Requirement 3 Objective 4. Determine how the full dimension of strategy as a concept and as a process relates to the policy, strategy, and military operations relationship.

22. Strategy as a Concept and a Process The Strategy Process: Determining national security objectives Formulating grand strategy Developing military strategy Designing operational strategy Formulating battlefield strategy (tactics) The Strategy Process: Determining national security objectives Formulating grand strategy Developing military strategy Designing operational strategy Formulating battlefield strategy (tactics) The Strategy Process: Determining national security objectives Formulating grand strategy Developing military strategy Designing operational strategy Formulating battlefield strategy (tactics)

23. Strategy as a Concept and a Process Strategy the bridge between policy and operations Effective strategy must integrate political and military criteria rather than separate them Civilian and military leaders may tend to polarize toward opposite sides of the bridge Strategy is the bridge between policy and operations A bridge allows elements on either side of it to move to the other Effective strategy must integrate political and military criteria rather than separate them Civilian and military leaders may tend to polarize toward opposite sides of the bridge thus marginalizing the making of strategy This gap should be bridged by strategic calculation for exactly how to use force to produce a desired political result rather than just a military result Strategy is the bridge between policy and operations A bridge allows elements on either side of it to move to the other Effective strategy must integrate political and military criteria rather than separate them Civilian and military leaders may tend to polarize toward opposite sides of the bridge thus marginalizing the making of strategy This gap should be bridged by strategic calculation for exactly how to use force to produce a desired political result rather than just a military result

24. Key PointsL1: Grand Strategy: Theory and Practice (continued)

25. Strategy as a Concept and a Process Complicating factors steps not neat or compartmentalized but blend and flow from national security objectives to tactics reverse flow or feedback system within the process Numerous external factors have influence where and by whom are decisions decisions made Four factors complicate the strategy process: The steps are neither neat or compartmentalized but blend and flow from national security objectives to tactics There is a reverse flow or feedback system within the process (results from the process continually affect further use of the process) Numerous external factors constrict and twist the straight-line flow from national security objectives to battlefield tactics Questions of where and by whom decisions are made within the processFour factors complicate the strategy process: The steps are neither neat or compartmentalized but blend and flow from national security objectives to tactics There is a reverse flow or feedback system within the process (results from the process continually affect further use of the process) Numerous external factors constrict and twist the straight-line flow from national security objectives to battlefield tactics Questions of where and by whom decisions are made within the process

26. Strategy as a Concept and a Process Characteristics of political/policy strategic objectives: First step in making strategy is deciding which political objectives a strategy will aim to achieve These objectives should establish: Definitions for survival and victory for all participants in the conflict Whether the nation is pursuing a limited or unlimited political objective Characteristics of political/policy strategic objectives: First step in making strategy is deciding which political objectives a strategy will aim to achieve These objectives should establish: Definitions for survival and victory for all participants in the conflict Whether the nation is pursuing a limited or unlimited political objective Clausewitz’s first question:Characteristics of political/policy strategic objectives: First step in making strategy is deciding which political objectives a strategy will aim to achieve These objectives should establish: Definitions for survival and victory for all participants in the conflict Whether the nation is pursuing a limited or unlimited political objective Clausewitz’s first question:

27. Strategy as a Concept and a Process Characteristics of military strategic objectives: Military objectives flow from political/policy objectives Use of military power should not produce unintended or undesirable political results Must consider centers of gravity and critical vulnerabilities Once political/policy objectives have been determined, the military strategist develops a set of military objectives that achieve those objectives Use of military power should not produce unintended or undesirable political results Using any kind of strategy (annihilation or erosion) centers of gravity and critical vulnerabilities must be considered when developing military objectives Once political/policy objectives have been determined, the military strategist develops a set of military objectives that achieve those objectives Use of military power should not produce unintended or undesirable political results Using any kind of strategy (annihilation or erosion) centers of gravity and critical vulnerabilities must be considered when developing military objectives

28. National Interests Vital national interests: An interest on which the nation is unwilling to compromise An interest over which a nation would go to war Sometimes interests are categorized Survival Vital Major Peripheral Vital national interests: An interest on which the nation is unwilling to compromise An interest over which a nation would go to war Sometimes interests are categorized Survival Vital Major Peripheral Vital national interests: An interest on which the nation is unwilling to compromise An interest over which a nation would go to war Sometimes interests are categorized Survival Vital Major Peripheral

29. Requirement 4 Objective 5. Discuss how the current U. S. National Security Strategy integrates the various elements of national power to achieve its goals and objectives.

30. National Security Strategy(September 2002)Goals Champion aspirations for human dignity Strengthen alliances to defeat global terrorism and work to prevent attacks against us and our friends Work with others to defuse regional conflicts Prevent our enemies from threatening us, our allies, and our friends with weapons of mass destruction

31. National Security Strategy(September 2002)Goals Ignite a new era of global economic growth through free markets and free trade Expand the circle of development by opening societies and building the infrastructure of democracy Develop agendas for cooperative action with other main centers of global power Transform America’s national security institutions to meet the challenges and opportunities of the twenty-first century

32. Summary Agenda Strategic Constants and Norms International Relations Theory Instruments/Elements of National Power The Limits of Military Power Strategy as a Concept and a Process National Interests The National Security Strategy (NSS) 2002

33. Points to remember The Notions of the IR Theories Characteristics of the strategic environment Aspects of the “M” instrument Themes of the policy and strategy relationship and process Political/policy and Military Objectives NSS 2002 Objectives and Elements IR Theory Notions Characteristics of the strategic environment Aspects of the “M” instrument Themes of the policy and strategy relationship and process Political/policy and Military Objectives NSS 2002 Objectives and ElementsIR Theory Notions Characteristics of the strategic environment Aspects of the “M” instrument Themes of the policy and strategy relationship and process Political/policy and Military Objectives NSS 2002 Objectives and Elements