Best Practices in Grand Strategy Design

Abstract: Policymakers often view grand strategy as an academic indulgence, with scholars enjoying the freedom to envision sweeping plans, while they themselves must face more immediate concerns. Although this skepticism is understandable, it is misplaced. This article demonstrates how practitioners drafting grand strategy documents can refine their instincts and elevate the effectiveness of their policies. It proposes a five-step framework to improve grand strategy formulation, including best practices in defining core strategic goals, identifying and analyzing strategic challenges, designing a coherent logic of action, and translating strategic ideas into coordinated policies. This approach builds on the academic literature on grand strategy in international relations, political science, history and business administration but uses real-world examples of how this literature can be used effectively in a policy context.