Strategy Matters

Guests John Maurer and James Holmes join host Vanya Eftimova Bellinger to discuss the influence of Alfred Thayer Mahan’s theories on the strategic environment of the twentieth century and beyond. The guests definitively settle the question of how to pronounce Mahan’s name correctly before diving into how various strategic leaders applied, or misapplied, Mahan’s theories to the formulation of maritime strategy. After analyzing the historical cases of Germany and Japan’s application of Mahanian theories, Dr. Maurer and Dr. Holmes turn their attention to how these ideas influence great power competition between the United States and the People’s Republic of China.Guests:Professor John H. Maurer is the Alfred Thayer Mahan Professor of Sea Power and Grand Strategy and served as the Chair of the Strategy and Policy Department at the Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island.James Holmes holds the J. C. Wylie Chair of Maritime Strategy at the Naval War College and served on the faculty of the University of Georgia School of Public and International Affairs. A former U.S. Navy surface-warfare officer, he was the last gunnery officer in history to fire a battleship’s big guns in anger, during the first Gulf War in 1991. He earned the Naval War College Foundation Award in 1994, signifying the top graduate in his class. His books include Red Star over the Pacific, an Atlantic Monthly Best Book of 2010 and a fixture on the Navy Professional Reading List.

Dr. Vanya Eftimova Bellinger, an expert on Clausewitz, and Andrew R. "Dex" Wilson, a specialist in Sun Tzu, delve into the contrasting theories of war. They explore whether Clausewitz ever read The Art of War and discuss the shared strategic foundations of both thinkers. While Bellinger highlights Clausewitz's focus on the chaos of battle, Wilson sheds light on Sun Tzu's indirect methods. The duo warns against common misinterpretations and stresses the importance of contextual understanding, offering unique insights for modern strategists.