School of War Ep 256: Nadia Schadlow on Strategic Depth
30 snips
Dec 12, 2025 
Nadia Schadlow, a Senior Fellow at the Hudson Institute and former Deputy National Security Advisor for Strategy, explores the vital concept of strategic depth. She explains its relevance amidst modern threats like cyber warfare. Historical examples like Napoleon’s campaigns illuminate how territory impacts conflict. The discussion also touches on the importance of allies and proactive defense strategies to maintain freedom of choice. Ultimately, they argue that strategic depth still matters, albeit in more complex forms today.
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Territory Buys Time And Freedom
- Strategic depth traditionally centers on territory because space buys time and freedom of action.
- Nadia Schadlow links historical examples like Napoleon and Nazi invasions to this enduring concept of time in strategy.
From Menard Graph To Volt Typhoon
- Nadia found inspiration linking the Menard graph of Napoleon and reports on Chinese cyber operations.
- Those two threads prompted her to update strategic depth to modern domains like infrastructure and cyber.
Depth Must Expand Beyond Territory
- Territorial strategic depth has less value today but territory still matters in different ways.
- Schadlow urges updating the concept into other domains like cyber, space, and the industrial base to preserve time advantages.
