Preparing for an Imperfect World: Strategy in Conflict Management Environments

This chapter develops an original approach to strategy intended to produce fresh insights into strategy formulation and implementation processes regarding conflict management. In this effort, we combine insights from the traditions of international relations and strategic studies. The debate on strategy in the international relations literature does not entail thorough discussions of the concept of strategy since the analysts usually assume that strategy is conflated with theoretical concepts such as balancing, coercive diplomacy, regimes, etc. The advantage is that strategic analysis is based on simple conceptual models with solidly tested theoretical dynamics from international relations. The disadvantage is that the levels and issues dealt with in different settings involved in strategic planning are not taken fully into account and a process is not identified. By contrast, the debate on strategy among defense academies often contains detailed conceptual analyses of strategy. This literature identifies and systematizes the complexity of actors and issues involved in strategic planning. However, because it is situated within a military planning context, these analyses are often marked by detail rather than a broader perspective. They describe the total agenda of strategy formulation and implementation without deducing key elements that are crucial to meet political visions. These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.