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Irregular Enemies and the Essence of Strategy: Can the American Way of War Adapt?

Authored by Dr. Colin S. Gray.

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Brief Synopsis

The author offers a detailed comparison between the character of irregular warfare, insurgency in particular, and the principal enduring features of "the American way." He concludes that there is a serious mismatch between that "way" and the kind of behavior that is most effective in countering irregular foes. The author poses the question, Can the American way of war adapt to a strategic threat context dominated by irregular enemies? He suggests that the answer is "perhaps, but only with difficulty."

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Also by the Author/Editor:

Making Strategic Sense of Cyber Power: Why the Sky Is Not Falling
Categorical Confusion? The Strategic Implications of Recognizing Challenges Either as Irregular or Traditional
Hard Power and Soft Power: The Utility of Military Force as an Instrument of Policy in the 21st Century
Schools for Strategy: Teaching Strategy for 21st Century Conflict
After Iraq: The Search for a Sustainable National Security Strategy
The Implications of Preemptive and Preventive War Doctrines: A Reconsideration
Recognizing and Understanding Revolutionary Change in Warfare: The Sovereignty of Context
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