Colin Gray's The Strategist As Hero

Colin Gray’s, The Strategist as Hero, attempts to provide broader context of the nature and struggles of the strategy profession. Gray offers two relevant assertions for the practical strategist: a single general theory of strategy has value, and that a general theory of strategy educates the strategist to assist in finding solutions to present day challenges. Both lay the foundation for Gray’s overarching theme that to devise, sustain, and conclude purposeful behavior is very difficult, and a heroic, endeavor.
Articulating his support of a single general theory of strategy, Gray cautiously introduces the Trinitarian credo, “One theory, one theorist, one historical challenge”. Gray’s declaration reflects the fundamental nature of the

strategy profession. The problems presented at the strategic level, both in the conduct and education of warfare, are unchanging due to human nature. Every problem needs a strategy, explained in a plan, and every strategy starts with a theory. Planning is theorizing; theories may look different depending on the practical problem, but the military solution to a present day problem is basically a theory of victory.” In this context, practicing theory is the foundation of all strategies, or plans, and without its exercise, illustrates a lack of understanding of, and how to solve, the historic challenge itself.
Gray argues that devaluing a single general theory of strategy, which is, to disregard the logic of war and human nature when devising plans, leads to strategic mistakes. “Whereas all strategies are plans, not all plans are strategies.” Gray argues that many military actions guide plans that are tactically sound, but fail the strategy test because they lack consideration of goals to achieve operational, strategic, or political value.
For example, Gray explains that while nuclear war plans are a necessity, “the use of nuclear weapons on a large scale would mean only that their owner could think of nothing else to do, even though such action could serve no strategic or political purposes”. Therefore, without context of historical instances of similar circumstances, can resolve leaders to use military assets, and in some cases, irrevocable large-scale violent action, without a clear understanding of what victory should, and could, look like. In this situation, the strategy failed long before the deployment of such weapons.
Gray also asserts that strategic theory educates the practical strategist to handle complex problems, but continuously competes with the overwhelming need of practical solutions for present problems. “Officials usually are not interested in the nature of strategy. Instead, for example, they need to know how best to bring down Hitler’s Third Reich”. In essence, policymakers seek not to define the nature of the North Korea problem; they need immediate solutions to control North Korean provocations. Gray explains that it is futile to look for practical answers in an overarching theory of strategy, but rather it educates strategists so they are mentally equipped to address their historically unique challenges. Perhaps others agree with Colin Gray.
Harry Yarger explains in Strategic Theory for the 21st Century, “Strategy is a coherent blueprint to bridge the gap between the realities of today and a desired future”. The blueprint Yarger mentions is not necessarily specific answers to present problems, but instead a coordinated way to think about a problem to get to a process by which produces a better solution.
In closing, Gray argues that even though strategy is difficult, it is possible. True excellence is often unnecessary, because a strategist needs only a necessary measure of control over the enemy’s decisions to win, and therefore a strategist will benefit greatly with education of a general theory of strategy. This is because “The Logic of war and strategy is universal”. An unpredictable North Korean leader that pursues military dominance is not necessarily a unique challenge. Essentially, a general theory of strategy will serve to assist the strategist to devise, sustain, and conclude solutions to present day problems from historically similar circumstances.