An Introduction To Strategy

by André Beaufre

Qu’est-ce que la stratégie  ? «  L’art de la dialectique des volontés employant la force pour résoudre leur conflit  », écrit le général Beaufre. Son but est «  d’atteindre la décision en créant et en exploitant une situation entraînant une désintégration morale de l’adversaire suffisante pour lui faire accepter les conditions qu’on veut lui imposer  ».
Publié en 1963, ce livre n’a rien perdu de son actualité. Car il aborde la stratégie avec la hauteur philosophique et l’universalité qui seules lui permettent de résister parfaitement à l’épreuve du temps. Classique de la stratégie, texte bref, condensé au prix d’une abstraction qui lui donne toute sa valeur, cet ouvrage doit être lu et relu au même titre que ceux de Clausewitz ou Sun Tzu.

Genres: Nonfiction

138 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1963

Reviews

[Andrew Carr · Rating 5 out of 5]

Justifiably a classic. Beaufre keeps the essential focus of strategic thinking on the interaction and reciprocity of the two or more actors involved. Everything else flows from this. As such he needs only 138 pages to provide more wisdom than you find in many tomes on the topic. Edward Luttwak's excellent book 'Strategy' is effectively spelt out in just a few pages herein. Though the author is a former French General, he avoids his professions common tendencies to either dwell on their achievements, to focus on tactics and technology, or to bury the reader in an avalanche of military history.

Written in 1963, at another time of western pessimism and Chinese/Russian creeping strategies, the book is especially poignant. A reminder what we've faced before, and the distance we have to go today to even begin to think through the challenges we're facing now.

[Eskild Walnum · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beaufre describes strategy in a simple and logical way, to me he is kind of a condensed version of Sir Basil Liddel Hart. With his military experience mixed with the emerged nuclear balance of the 1950ies and 60ies, he manages to contextualize and make strategy concrete and understandable.
This book is first and foremost a classic introduction to strategy.

[Christopher Watterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cogent, clear-sighted, and more relevant today than even when it was written. Andre Beaufre has an economy of words that imparts volumes in mere pages. His insights into the competitions of the great powers in WW2, the evolution of strategy in the dawn of the nuclear age, and on the challenges of insurgencies are applicable to every conflict occurring in the world today. If ever there were a single book on grand strategy to recommend today, this would be it. Sun Tzu, Clausewitz, et al., eat your hearts out.

Tragically, it is nigh impossible to find a copy. It's been out of print since the 60's, and you're down to checking universities and think-tanks for their copies.

[sohail babar · Rating 5 out of 5]

A.B.C of strategy (wonderful read).
*Central idea*
Strategy is an art as old as hills. Strategy is game of music, played in two keys. The major key is direct strategy in which force is essential factor. The minor key is indirect strategy, in which force recedes in background and taken by psy and planning.
The essence of strategy is to achieve freedom of action which is determined by interplay of four components namely, material force/ military , moral force/ psy, time and space.
*Recommendation*
Must read for every soldier

[Filip · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short and to the point book about military strategy written during the heights of the cold war and everpresent threat of nuclear war. A must read for all military men and readers interested in strategy.

[Mariel]

Buena introducción al tema aunque la traducción al español es malarda

[And · Rating 5 out of 5]

essential reading for anyone on the same planet as war.

I find that strategic thinking must occur secondarily. first, one needs an understanding and appreciation of the world as it is. only then can someone plan and employ strategy - otherwise - what good would it be?

it's very short but fascinating from the off and to the end. it's so short but it also is quite dense, I imagine I'll be re-reading soon.

I'll get his other books and look forward to reading those too.

[Bill Nielsen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cogent and concise. Recommend for anyone who wants to think about strategy

[Paulo Vitorino · Rating 4 out of 5]

Obra que por vezes não é de leitura fácil, mas que introduz o leitor nas complexidades da Estratégia e do pensamento estratégico.

Desenhada para a compreensão da guerra e da Estratégia do conflito, o leitor pode aplicar os conhecimentos daqui apreendidos a muitos outros campos da sua vida, onde o pensamento estratégico fará sentido em qualquer processo de tomada de decisão.

[Umair · Rating 4 out of 5]

An Introduction To Strategy