Horns of a Dilemma The Art and Science of Grand Strategy
11 snips
Dec 16, 2025 Dr. Marina Henke, a leading expert in international relations and security policy, discusses her article on grand strategy. She defines it as prioritizing resource allocation under uncertainty and highlights failures in recent strategies, including Germany's and the U.S.'s. Henke stresses the importance of continuous updates and clear goals, arguing that democracies must engage the public in strategic discourse. She also critiques political challenges that make effective prioritization difficult, emphasizing the need for coherent policy across departments.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
How The Article Originated
- Marina Henke was asked to create guidelines after criticizing Germany's 2023 national security strategy.
- She produced a report for the government that became the basis for her TNSR article.
Grand Strategy Defined By Resource Allocation
- Grand strategy is the art and science of allocating resources to achieve core goals under uncertainty.
- Budgets reveal a state's de facto grand strategy whether or not a formal document exists.
Three Required Elements Of Strategy
- A valid grand strategic document contains three elements: a core goal, core challenges, and a logic of action.
- Distinguish between writing a document and actually implementing it in policy and budgets.