The impact of globalisation on strategy

Globalisation is a political phenomenon characterised by the weakening of mediating institutions and the direct confrontation between individuals and global forces. Its impact on strategy will be profound, but also ambiguous. Civil conflict and terrorism using weapons of mass destruction are among the new threats that can confound traditional tools of strategy. On the positive side, more open societies may provide new opportunities to manage international affairs. However, the scope and ambitions of strategy may have to be scaled down, since too many factors are now beyond control. The dilution of power produced by globalisation is uneven and a successful strategy will have to combine classic balance-of-power politics and organised interdependence. US leadership is unlikely to provide a lasting solution, but a multipolar world may not be more stable; institutionalised interdependence, as attempted by the European Union, is a more promising answer.