Grand Strategy

“Grand Strategy”

Speaker: Layton, P. (New America)

Date: 13 December 2018

Speaker Session Preview

SMA hosted an exclusive Q&A session featuring Dr. Peter Layton (Griffith Asia Institute, Griffith University) as a part of its Future of Global Power Competition & Conflict Speaker Series. Dr. Layton highlighted the two primary premises upon which his book, entitled Grand Strategy, was based: 1. People build grand strategies for the future; not the past, and 2. Strategies start in the minds of people. He explained that the objective of this book is to stop people from concentrating on a single school of thought when it comes to grand strategy by presenting a variety of ideas from which people can choose.

During the Q&A session, the following questions were addressed:

As you were developing your concepts for this book, what were some of the other ideas/concepts that were considered or almost made the cut, but were ultimately rejected?

2. In your book, you describe three main types of grand strategies: denial, engagement, and reform. Could you talk us through all three of these strategies, as well as where each of these strategies work?

3. What do you think will be the keys to moving from theory to practice in actual strategic planning communities?

4. Do some countries or systems have advantages in using certain grand strategies over others?

5. In which venues have you held discussions on the topic, and how have your ideas been received in the policy, strategy, and academic communities? Is there a home within one of these communities for grand strategy?

6. What are your thoughts on grand strategy discussions focused on combating religious extremism and terrorism?

Speaker Session Audio File

Download Dr. Layton’s bio and article