Strategy is derived from the Greek word Strategos in the 18th Century. The strategy has a background of Military for its origin or evolution. The concept of strategy evolved slowly from Military Strategy to Business Strategy or strategic management. Military origins of Strategy can be explained with the help of the following points and examples.
The Concept of Military Strategy
Definition of Military Strategy
- Military strategy is the thoughtful planning and execution of ideas by the military to achieve specific goals.
- Military strategy is the art of general or the art of arrangement of troops.
Meaning of Military Strategy in a nutshell
In simple words, Military strategy is all about carefully making plans and smartly doing things to win in the military.
The concept of Military strategy deals with:
1. The planning and conduct of campaigns
2. The movement and disposition of forces, and
3. The deception of the enemy
Definition of Strategy
Military theory of strategy defines: Strategy is the utilization during both peace and war, of all of the nation’s forces, through large scale, long-range planning and development, to ensure security and victory” (Random House Dictionary).
“Strategy is the employment of battles to gain the end of the war.”
This definition is given by Carl von Clausewitz, The father of Western modern strategic study.
“Strategy is the art of distributing and applying military means to fulfil the ends of policy”.
This definition was given by B. H. Liddell Hart.
The Chinese, Japanese, Korean and Vietnamese historical and modern war tactics are influenced by Sun Tzu, the father of Eastern military strategy.
Origin, Background & History of Strategy
The concept of strategy has its origins in military history.
It was first used in the context of warfare to refer to the planning and execution of military operations. The term “strategy” comes from the Greek word “strategos,” which means “general.”
500 BC – Sun Tzu and Chanakya
The principles of military strategy emerged in the works of Sun Tzu and Chanakya.
Following are some examples of Military Strategy (Planning and Development) demonstration & implementation: Alexander, Chandragupta Maurya, Hannibal, Qin Shi Huang, Julius Cæsar, Zhuge Liang, Khalid ibn al-Walid.
1520 – Art of War
Niccolò Machiavelli’s Dell’arte della guerra (Art of War)
1618-1648 (The Thirty Years’ War)
Advanced operational strategy by Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden
Victories on the soil of the Holy Roman Empire.
1756–1763 – Strategy of exhaustion
In the Seven Years’ War, Frederick the Great improvised a “strategy of exhaustion” to hold off his opponents and conserve his Prussian forces.
1777 – The word first time used in German as “Strategie”
The word was first used in German as “Strategie” in a translation of Leo’s work
Shortly thereafter in French as “stratégie” by Leo’s French translator
1810 – Word used in English
The word Strategie in English (Strategy)
19th Century:
Three ways: The following were the main three bases for strategy in the Military –
- Art &/or Science of conduct of warfare,
- Tactics and
- Logistics
It was difficult to distinguish Tactics from strategy in Roman Times and there was confusion about these concepts.
Involvement of Troops observed in the French Revolutionary War.
20th century:
The distinction between manoeuvre and battle, strategy and tactics, expanded with the capacity of technology and transit.
As military strategy evolved, it adapted its principles to other fields, including business, politics, and sports. Today, various contexts use the term “strategy” to describe the planning and execution of any complex endeavour. This is all about the Military Origins of Strategy.
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