Military Strategy: A General Theory of Power Control (Classics of Sea Power) [Hardcover]

Joseph C. Wylie (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 1989 | Series: Classics of Sea Power

In "Military Strategy" Rear Admiral J.C. Wylie invented the intellectual framework and terminology with which to understand strategy as a means of control. He synthesized the four existing specific theories of strategy into one general theory that is as valid today as when it was first created. Wylie has written a penetrating new postscript especially for this "Classics of Sea Power" edition that takes an up-to-the-minute look at such topics as terrorism, Nicaraguan politics, and the Strategic Defense Initiative. To supplement the text, John Hattendorg's introduction presents a detailed intellectual biography of Wylie. In addition, several of Wylie's most significant shorter writings are included as appendixes. J.C. Wylie retired from the U.S. Navy as a rear admiral in 1972, after a forty-four-year naval career that included service as chief of staff as the Naval War College. John B. Hattendorf is Ernest J. King Professor of Maritime History at the Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island, and co-editor of "Sea Power" series.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 388 pages
• Publisher: Naval Inst Pr (December 1989)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0870213628
• ISBN-13: 978-0870213625
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.8 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,495,227 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars J.C. Wylie in his own words, January 30, 2011

By 

John L. Jerz - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Military Strategy: A General Theory of Power Control (Classics of Sea Power) (Hardcover)

p.92 strategy, by the definition we have used, is not limited to a war situation or to military application. A general theory of strategy should be applicable in any conflict situation.

p.96 what they [Professor John von Neumann of Princeton and Professor Harold Lasswell at Yale] had told us [Wylie and his colleague Eugene L. Burdick, seeking advice in 1950 on planning a course of study on "why we need a navy" at the Naval War College], each in his own fashion, was this: we needed a theory, and we needed a vocabulary with which to talk about it. With these two intellectual tools we could then address the problem of why we needed a navy.
That was the genesis of what turned out to be, several years later, this book.

p.96 I turned my hand to devising a general theory of strategy, valid anytime, anyplace, and under any circumstances. And I invited anyone interested to alter or amend or replace it.
As far as I know, no one has ever paid any attention to it. I don't know whether this is because it is so clear and obviously valid that no one needs to, or because it is no use at all. I suspect it could be the latter, but I really do not know.

p.97-98 a strategy is a plan for doing something in order to achieve some known end... The aim of any strategy... is to exercise some kind or degree of control over the target of the strategy... I have used the word "control" because I can't find a better. The vocabulary is not wholly adequate to the need. In many cases "influence" might be more nearly the word; less often it could even be "dominance."... I have settled on "control" simply as an umbrella to cover the full span of possibilities... the strategist needs some leverage to induce or force the other fellow to accede, wholly or in part, to what the strategist wants... The correlation between destruction and control, which varies widely from one situation to another, has been essentially neglected in public discussion of military strategy.

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent and relevant, July 24, 2011

By 

J. Scott Shipman (Annandale, VA) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Military Strategy: A General Theory of Power Control (Classics of Sea Power) (Hardcover)

This may be the best writing on strategy by an American in the twentieth century. Admiral Wylie's little book is simple to read and understand, and he admits that he may miss the mark with some of his ideas, but encourages the reader to probe further. I've written an longer review at zenpundit and the US Naval Institue's blog.

Highest possible recommendation...particularly if you're in uniform and just getting started with strategic thinking, this book would be a great place to start.