Book Description

Strategy presents considerable theoretical and practical interest. From a theoretical standpoint, it presents the advantage of being applicable to a wide range of situations. Developing a general theory for strategy also frees it from any regional or thematic context. Strategy can therefore be applied to any context. From a practical standpoint, a strategy generates a number of polyvalent methodologies, intelligible both to the academic and the lay person. These methodologies have been proposed as valid irrespective of the political system, ideology, socio-economic circumstance, or type of actor involved. The first step in this proposal began with the development of a methodology for theory-building. The construction of a theory also produced a template and subsidiary method for adapting the theory to more specific problems. A second set of case studies using the individual citizen as actor have also been completed, including the analysis of individuals using strategy in their interactions with phenomena, other individuals, infra-national groups, supra-national groups, the government of a state, and an international organisation of states. In parallel to these theoretical works is a series of practical works, whose goal is to make available the methodologies produced by strategic theory, but without requiring the abstract theoretical work of the other strand. This strand includes books on organisational political strategy and tactics for individuals and small groups, as well as using strategy in political activism and on how to use strategy to analyse national and international policies established by governments. The book contains a substantive set of worksheets useful in developing and carrying out a political strategy, making it applicable in both the theoretical and practical realms.