Strategic culture and British grand strategy, 1945-1952
The thesis explores the concept of strategic culture and applies it to British grand strategy between 1945-1952. Strategic culture refers to the beliefs, attitudes and values held by a particular group regarding the use of force, and asserts that these are shaped by the group's distinctive historical experience, geographical setting and political organisation. The thesis first describes the origins of strategic culture, locates it within the strategic studies literature and argues that it should be investigated further. It proceeds to survey the strategic culture literature, showing in detail the uses to which strategic culture has been put, categorising the work done so far, and identifying its strengths and weaknesses and the areas needing refinement. The next stage is a survey of the literature on political culture, a concept with a familial resemblance to strategic culture, with the aim of developing understanding of how strategic culture can be used and studied. In the light of this the strategic culture literature is reassessed and a framework and methodology for the study of strategic culture is proposed. The framework is then used to draw up a profile of the salient aspects of British strategic culture.
Macmillan, Alan Livingston
History
Strategic culture and British grand strategy, 1945-1952. The thesis explores the concept of strategic culture and applies it to British grand strategy between 1945-1952. Strategic culture refers to the beliefs, attitudes and values held by a particular group regarding the use of force, and asserts that these are shaped by the group's distinctive historical experience, geographical setting and political organisation. The thesis first describes the origins of strategic culture, locates it within the strategic studies literature and argues that it should be investigated further. It proceeds to survey the strategic culture literature, showing in detail the uses to which strategic culture has been put, categorising the work done so far, and identifying its strengths and weaknesses and the areas needing refinement. The next stage is a survey of the literature on political culture, a concept with a familial resemblance to strategic culture, with the aim of developing understanding of how strategic culture can be used and studied. In the light of this the strategic culture literature is reassessed and a framework and methodology for the study of strategic culture is proposed. The framework is then used to draw up a profile of the salient aspects of British strategic culture.
strategic culture british grand strategy explores concept strategic culture applies british grand strategy strategic culture refers beliefs attitude value hold particular_group regard use force assert shape group distinctive historical experience geographical set political_organisation first_describe origin strategic culture locate_within strategic study literature argues investigate far proceeds survey strategic culture literature show detail use strategic culture put categorise work far identify strengths_weakness area need refinement next stage survey_literature political_culture concept familial resemblance strategic culture aim_develop strategic culture use study light strategic culture literature reassess framework study strategic culture propose framework use draw profile salient aspect british strategic culture