We live in a world in which America鈥檚 previous dominance has disappeared, violent states seek to remake the global order, and war itself has taken new forms. The Strategist is the definitive guide to the use of military means to achieve political ends. In this incisive book, Eliot Cohen addresses the deceptively straightforward questions at the heart of strategy, the reasons why strategists often choose badly, and the ways in which strategy, inevitably imperfect, can be improved.
Who is the enemy? What are our means? What is the sequence in which we should act? Why do we believe we will succeed? These are some of the seemingly elementary questions all strategists must answer, and success or failure rests on choices that may also seem simple, such as selecting campaigns and deciding when to launch a war and when to stop it. Yet devising effective strategy, while achievable, is extremely difficult. Cohen draws on illuminating examples from history as well as his own experience as a strategic adviser to government to explain why. He demonstrates how to mitigate these limitations through habits of thought and qualities of character that enable a strategist to make the best possible decisions under conditions of profound uncertainty.
We wish to be done with war, but unfortunately war is not done with us. At a time of radical change in geopolitics and military technology, The Strategist sheds light on the perils before us, and ways to cope with them.
Eliot A. Cohen is the Arleigh A. Burke Chair in Strategy at the Center for Strategic and International Studies and professor emeritus and former dean at the School of Advanced International Studies at Johns Hopkins University. A contributing writer to The Atlantic, he was Counselor of the Department of State under Condoleezza Rice and has served in the intelligence community and the Department of Defense.
“Strategy is about making hard choices. Good strategic thinking requires a cold-eyed view of the world, and a dispassionate approach to problem solving. Eliot Cohen understands this better than anyone, and this excellent book is proof of his continuing mastery of this discipline.”—General Kenneth F. McKenzie Jr., USMC (Retired)
“The Strategist brilliantly distills the essence of military strategy—what it is and how it should be practiced. In an era where thinking about strategy too often relies on schematic formulas advanced in PowerPoint presentations, Eliot Cohen reminds us that the crafting of the most effective military strategies has always been guided by deep historical knowledge of previous conflicts.”—Admiral James Stavridis, 16th Supreme Allied Commander of NATO and author of The Turning Tide: A Novel of Love and War
“A masterful guide to the art and discipline of strategy that draws on Eliot Cohen’s exceptional, hard-earned wisdom. Clear-eyed, rigorous, and essential for understanding our turbulent era.”—General David Petraeus, US Army (Retired); former Commander of the Surge in Iraq, US Central Command, and Coalition Forces in Afghanistan; former Director of the CIA; coauthor of Conflict: The Evolution of Warfare from 1945 to Gaza
“Eliot Cohen distills volumes into a single work. The Strategist is the place to start for statesmen, military officers, and intelligence professionals to appreciate the complexities of war at the highest level.”—Ambassador Douglas Lute, Lieutenant General, US Army (Retired)
“In an era fascinated by artificial intelligence, automation, and data, Eliot Cohen reminds us of something fundamental: strategy remains the domain of human judgment, character, and imagination. This is a profoundly Aristotelian book, restoring faith in the importance of deep thinking, history, rhetoric, and strategic responsibility. One of the most important books on the future of strategy.”—General Rajmund T. Andrzejczak (Retired), Chief of the General Staff of the Polish Armed Forces, 2018–2023
“This important book belongs on the shelves of any general or senior civilian official who aspires to lead America in wartime. Eliot Cohen’s insights are profound yet practical. This amounts to a handbook for how to win. Highest recommendation.”—General Christopher G. Cavoli, US Army (Retired), Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR) for NATO and Commander of the United States European Command (EUCOM)
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