The Crisis of Grand Strategy in the West

Contemporary Western political systems are the result of centuries of gradual evolution. At various times during the modern era, countries such as France and Germany have been able to coordinate all available instruments of power – military, economic, and diplomatic – under the umbrella of a coherent long-term “grand strategy”. However, during the last 50 years, the continued evolution of these political systems has made such comprehensive plans much harder to conceive and execute, making us ponder if grand strategies have transitioned from mainstay to pipedream.

During the Napoleonic Wars (1793-1815), Great Britain composed and delivered a grand strategy to great effect. The state’s core objective was preventing the emergence of a hegemonic power dominating continental Europe. While Britain was capable and possessed many resources, it was not a superpower that could satisfy its objective by deploying a large terrestrial army to conquer Europe, necessitating a nuanced approach.

Dr. Omar Ahmad AlUbaydli, Studies and Research Director


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