Gray april 2015 the views expressed in this report are those of the author and. Gray worked at the international institute for strategic studies london, and at hudson institute crotononhudson, ny, before founding a defenseoriented. Gray is a political scientist with broad interests in national security policy, strategic theory, and military history. In political terms, the 20 colin gray security space for the. The 21st century security environment and the future of war. Infinity journal is solely distributed through its official website. Ironically, i am partial to the definition postulated by dr.
The changing nature of warfare transcript and summary of a conference, 2526 may 2004. Colin gray s explanation of the century in terms of strategic activity, foreign policy, and war is fascinating and instructional. It is an essential andenduring feature of human history that is here to stay. As with all strategies, geostrategy is concerned with matching means to ends in this case, a countrys resources whether they are limited or extensive with its geopolitical objectives which can be local. Gray has lived in three countries and has performed official advisory duties in both the uk and the usa. 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. How to convert pdf to word without software duration. Gray, worldrenowned scholar of strategic thought, discusses the meaning of strategy and its impo.
Gray has taught at universities in britain, canada, and the united states, has been assistant director of the international institute for strategic studies london, and. It is an essential and enduring feature of human history that is here to stay. Professor colin gray on mackinder a defence of the heartland. Some commentators and observers of international affairs including the authorclaim to have a unified theory of strategy, a unified theory of. The future of strategy kindle edition by gray, colin s politics. 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. He is the author of numerous books on strategy, including the navy in the postcold war world. In the future of strategy he argues that there is a general theory of strategy that applies to all times, places and circumstances. In an era of strategic atrophy when were wrestling with a world awash in change, the future of strategy provides the best and most relevant guide to navigate our way. 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. Advanced strategic planning and analysis support contract with the national institute for public policy, contract no.
Gray in the future of strategy takes on the task of explaining what strategy is, where its been, and where its going. In this edition, page numbers are just like the physical edition. Visit our website for other free publication downloads. Insightful and controversial, it is a mustread for all students of strategic studies and policy makers who wrestle with the difficult strategic. For example, he has written extensively on nuclear strategy, maritime strategy, space strategy, special operations, geopolitics, airpower, arms control, and strategic theory. The nine principles of war as defined in the army field manual fm 3. Apr 17, 2014 this lesson examines the contributions to the theory of airpower by the recognized strategist colin gray. Considered to be strategys mundane cousin, defense planning revolves around how a nation designs its. Maritime strategy future national security environment and forces. 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.
The central statement that strategy is a pervasive and enduring aspect of human history describes the theory, practice, and predictions surrounding the study of strategy posited by colin gray in his 2015 book, the future of strategy. Contemporary characteristics of war and prospects for the future 21 paper 1. Gray is professor of international politics and strategic studies at the university of read ing, uk. Grays work has addressed a wide range of subjects on national security. The immodesty, even arrogance, of this endeavor is best conveyed through an anecdote about a meeting between hannibal barca and an. Colin grays explanation of the century in terms of strategic activity, foreign policy, and war is. I believe we can understand the broad character of future strategic. Colin gray is professor of international politics and strategic studies at the. Gray university of reading june 2003 prepared for the strategic and combat studies institute conference past futures royal military academy, sandhurst, 34 july, 2003 and marine corps command and staff college, quantico, va, usa, 910 september, 2003.
The future of strategy kindle edition by gray, colin s. The future of strategy kindle edition by gray, colin s download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading the future of strategy. Lawrence freedman and colin gray are two of the most famous contemporary scholars of military strategy. A graduate of the universities of manchester and oxford, dr. Geostrategy, a subfield of geopolitics, is a type of foreign policy guided principally by geographical factors as they inform, constrain, or affect political and military planning. More specifically, he maintains, airpower is a tactical equity. He has written pioneering and controversial studies of nuclear strategy, arms control, maritime strategy, and geopolitics. Gray march 2014 the views expressed in this report are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the department of the army, the department of defense, the u. International relations military and naval science military policy strategic aspects military strategy terminology usage national security planning. Modern strategy is a book important to my understanding of the history of the 20th century. My aim is to relate the nature of strategy to the character of its artistic application.
British naval strategy in the first months of the great war. Any individual article or full edition may not be shared through other websites or by other means, as a whole or in any part, unless infinity journal gives express consent. Using enduring principles colin gray lights the path ahead in a book that stands alone in its clarity and strategic insight. Gray is a strategic theorist and defense analyst who has worked in britain, canada, and the united states. Professor colin gray on clausewitz and the modern strategic world. Gray provides a theory of airpower that includes the empirical lessons of its meandering. 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. Jul, 2018 bus470 the future of strategy by colin gray minilecture. Edited by john baylis, james wirtz, and colin gray. Geostrategy can function normatively, advocating foreign policy based on geographic factors, analytically, describing how foreign policy is shaped by geography, or predictively, predicting a countrys future foreign policy decisions on the basis of geographic factors. In addition, he is a senior associate to the national institute for public. New ideas or events likely will shade its appeal, but there. Despite his frequent use of adjectives about my work which suggest a desperation to inoculate future generations of scholars against it, we actually agree on a great deal.
The first generation of theory strikes back takes the scholarly argument about the study, and meaning, of strategic culture to a new stage. Within the past few years, each published a book addressing different aspects of the same practical problem of strategy. This book is a useful start point for any student of strategy, strategic history, and for those who seek to understand its foundation, formulation, and fallibility. The central statement that strategy is a pervasive and enduring aspect of human history describes the theory, practice, and. The new edition has been updated to reflect the changing structure of global politics and rapid technological developments. A modern airpower theorist whispers to a wall medium.
Bus470 the future of strategy by colin gray minilecture. As such, it is in the public domain, and under the provisions of title 17, united states code, section 105, it may not be. Defence planning, surprise, and prediction professor of. Strategy is a word which is thrown around incessantly, but a word which very few people seem to have a firm definition for. Government, her majestys government, the uk ministry of. So i am grateful to professor gray for his article. Professor grays central theme is that airpower generates strategic effect. Gray, a prolific angloamerican scholar and strategist, died last week after a decadeslong contest with cancer. Each perspective has attracted persisting controversy. This lesson examines the contributions to the theory of airpower by the recognized strategist colin gray. He is the author of 23 books, including another bloody.
Infinity journal strategy publication with leading analysis. We kindly recommend that your friends and colleagues subscribe for free at infinityjournal. Perspectives on strategy is strongly complementary to the authors previous book, the strategy bridge. The uses and value of strategic sea 1994, explorations in strategy 2nd edn, 1998, and the second nuclear age forthcoming 1999. Strategic thought and behaviour are explored and explained from the perspectives of intellect, morality, culture, geography, and technology. Sep 01, 2016 ironically, i am partial to the definition postulated by dr. Strategic and combat studies institute previous scsi. Clausewitz, history, and the future strategic world colin s. Gray is professor of international politics and strategic studies at the university of reading, england. Perspectives on strategy examines in depth five aspects of strategy. Gray, worldrenowned scholar of strategic thought, discusses the meaning of strategy and its importance for politicians and the military as a means of achieving. Gray when airpower theorists commit gross errors of fact, logic, and conception, they arm their enemies in debate.
Of recent years he has focused on policy and strategy at both ends of the spectrum of violence, special operations and nuclear ones. A renowned scholar of geopolitics and nuclear strategy, professor gray worked in the united states and the united kingdom and retired from academia after years at the university of reading. Gray march 2006 this publication is a work of the united states government as defined in. Infinity journal strategy publication with leading. The academic and policy worlds, the study of strategy, realism. He is the author of 22 books, including another bloody. Gray national institute for public policy prepared under. Registering for subsciption to infinity journal is quick and simple, and will give you access to all articles past, present and future. As the old blues song goes, if it werent for bad luck, id have no luck at all. Colin gray is professor of international politics and director of the centre for security studies at the university of hull. Wirtz strategic studies and its critics columba peoples the practice of strategy colin s. Leading international scholars provide complete coverage of key enduring, contemporary and emerging issues in strategic studies.