Book Review: Lukas Milevski, The Evolution of Modern Grand Strategic Thought
| Published date | 01 November 2017 |
| DOI | 10.1177/1478929917712904 |
| Author | Chris Rahman |
| Date | 01 November 2017 |
| Subject Matter | Book ReviewsInternational Relations |
Political Studies Review 15(4)
provides a welcome alternative to mainstream
documents as statements of understanding of
positivism. Since reality is not ‘out there’ (p. 55)
their national security environment and policy
to be discovered, the universality and time-
responses. However, definitions and usage of
lessness of security knowledge is challenged.
‘grand strategy’, whether by those serving in the
Subsequently, she immanently critiques internal
official or military realms, or by academics or oth-
contradictions in assumptions about 9/11 that
ers, have been far from consistent.
made the high-handed response permissible.
It is this story, the evolution and use of the
Among other things, Manichean and ‘existential
grand strategy concept, that Lukas Milevski
threat’ narratives of elites can be exposed
seeks to uncover. Using his excellent research
through this approach. The final part of this sec-
and original source material, he traces, in chap-
tion explores the construction of ‘otherness’.
ter 1, the origins of the term to nineteenth-
The selection of cases is somewhat Western-
century French analyses of Napoleonic military
centric, which reduces the diversity when con-
strategy. Its early use in English was varied but
sidering the argument about multiplicity of
narrowly military in scope. The more common
identities. Furthermore, this section could have
twentieth-century Anglo-American understand-
been more expansive in terms of engaging with
ing of grand strategy, however, as referring to
broader ontological and epistemological posi-
the use of all instruments of state power in the
tions.
pursuit of national policy in peace and war
The final part looks at practical aspects of
(including but not limited to military force), is
critiquing processes through which threats and
attributed in chapter 2 to late nineteenth- and
insecurity are produced and reproduced. Some
early twentieth-century American and British
...
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