The Role of Strategic Culture

Strategic culture is an essential concept in understanding military strategy as it emphasizes the implicit assumptions that strategic actors hold within their specific political and institutional contexts. These beliefs shape the nature of strategic thought and actions far more than the abstract theories proposed by established scholars. For example, Black argues that military leaders in different regions operate based on localized norms and experiences rather than rigid frameworks espoused by strategic theorists like Clausewitz. Thus, recognizing strategic culture is crucial to grasping how countries formulate their strategies in response to unique geopolitical situations.