National Security Strategy5.1 Introduction to strategy

1. Strategy is the art and science of developing and using the political, economic, social-psychological, and military powers of the state in accordance with policy guidance to create effects that protect or advance national interests relative to other states, actors, or circumstances

2. Strategy is all about how (way or concept) leadership will use the power (means or resources) available to the state to exercise control over sets of circumstances and geographic locations to achieve objectives (ends) that support state interests.

3. Strategy provides direction for the coercive or persuasive use of this power to achieve specified objectives. In simplistic terms, strategy at all levels is the calculation of objectives, concepts, and resources within acceptable bounds of risk to c

reate more favorable outcomes

5.2 The Contents of Strategy First strategy is by nature proactive. It seeks to control the

environment as opposed to reacting to it. Strategy is not crisis management. It is its direct opposite. Crisis management occurs when there is no strategy or the strategy fails

A second argument of a theory of strategy is that the strategist must know what is to be accom plished—that is, it must know the end state that he is trying to achieve

A third argument of a theory of strategy is that the strategy must identify an appropriate balance among the objectives sought, the methods to pursue the objectives, and the resources available

Strategy

MW E

Risk

Ends (objectives) explain “what” is to be accomplished. Ends are expressed with verbs (i.e., deter war, promote regional stability, destroy the enemy capability etc).

Ways (strategic concepts/courses of action) explain “how” the ends are to be accomplished by the em ployment of resources. Some concepts are so accepted that their names have been given to specific strategies (containment, forward defense, secure destruction etc.).

Means (resources) explain what specific resources are to be used in applying the concepts to accom plish the objectives. Means can be tangible or intangible. Examples of tangible means include forces, people, equipment, money, and facilities. Intangible resources include things like “will,” courage, or intellect.

Risk explains the gap between what is to be achieved and the concepts and resources available to achieve the objective

Any strategy guided by national interestNational Interest The concept of national interest can be defined as the goals

that states pursue to maximize what is best for their country. National interest could also be defined as the principles,

perceptions and practicalities that together shape a state’s foreign policies.

Interests are essential to establishing the national objectives that serve as the goal for policy and strategy

The national interest demands the willingness of a state to secure its morals and national values with the commitment of its blood, treasure, time, and energy, to achieve national objective

National interests also answer the fundamental but essential question: "What are we willing to die for?"

The means refer the instrument of national power Natioanl Power Most scholars focus on power as a means, the strength or capacity

that provides the “ability to influence the behavior of other actors in accordance with one’s own objectives.

At the national level, this influence is based on relations between nation-state X and another actor (Y), with X seeking to influence Y to act in X’s interest by doing Z, by continuing to do Z, or by not doing Z.

To achieve these ends, state X can use various techniques of influencing, ranging from influence or the offering of rewards to threats or the actual use of force

National power can be evaluated only in terms of all the power elements and only in relation to another player or players and the situation in which power is being exercised

In traditional security point of view national power is historically linked with military capacity

National power by distinguishing between natural and social determinants or element of national power.

The natural determinants (geography, resources, and population) are concerned with the number of people in a nation and with their physical environment.

Social determinants (Diplomacy, economic, Information, military, Public Suport)

Instruments of National Power

Economic

Diplomatic

Military

Information

Instrumentsof National

Power

 DIME 

Public Support

A fourth premise of strategy is that political purpose must dominate all strategy; thus, Clause witz’s famous saying, “War is merely the continuation of policy by other means. Political purpose is stated in policy. Policy is the expression of the desired end state sought by the government.

A fifth premise is that strategy is hierarchical. True strategy is the strategy that having both national consensus and com prehensive direction. Political leadership insures and maintains its control and influence through the hierarchical nature of state or national strategy. Strategy flows from the national level down to the lower levels.

In general, strategy has an inherent logic of sustainability, feasibility, and acceptability. These would naturally be considered when the strategy is developed.

  The question of suitability, feasibility, and acceptability are questions about the validity of the strategy.

In sum, good strategy should be:Proactive and anticipatorySubordinate of the national policyConsider the strategic environmentMaintain holistic perspectiveConsider changeClear end state and other important issue5.3 Level of strategy

Strategy has its own levels of hierarchy. National policy provides broad strategies guidance from political leaders, generally articulating the national interest as they relate to specific strategic circumstances.

National Security Strategy referred to as Grand Strategy and National Strategy. The art and science of developing, applying and coordinating the instruments of national power (diplomatic, economic, military, and informational) to achieve objectives that contributes to national security

National Security Strategy lays out broad objectives and

direction for the use of all the instruments of power. From this National Security Strategy the major activities and departments develop subordinate strate gies.

National Military Strategy the art and science of distributing and applying military power to attain national objectives in peace and war.

Theater Strategy. The art and science of developing integrated strategic concepts and courses of action directed toward securing the objectives of national and alliance or coalition security policy and strategy by the use of force, threatened use of force, or operations not involving the use of force within a theater.

It is essential that the strategist analyze and fully understand the desired end state in the context of the strategic environment (both domestic and external) in order to develop appropriate objectives in regard to the desired end state.

Hence, before proper objectives can be determined, the strategist must comprehend the nature of the strategic environment, the intent of the policy, and the nation’s aggregate interests as determinative of necessary and appropriate strategic effects.

5.4 Ethiopian Foreign Policy and Security Strategy More than any time, Ethiopia enjoys a position of military

strength and great economic development. This achievement is not come by chance; it is the result of committed leadership couple with committed people.

These commitments produce clear foreign policy and national security strategy as a country long term goal and provide roadmap for achieving those goals that are clear and realistic.

National security strategy should have the mission of protecting national interest and security

Our foreign policy and national security strategy should be protect our national interest, we will have to elaborate a policy that facilitates rapid development and democratization.

Our national interest is all about democracy and development. We believe that we will not survive as a nation if we are not

promoting democracy and development to ensure our survival. Our security policy cannot have a goal that does not proceed from this premise.

The objective of our foreign and national security policy is the realization of our vision of democracy and development and creating an enabling environment to this end. Our vision for development and the building of a democratic order can succeed only if we examine seriously our country’s objective reality and decide on ways of achieving our goals and moving in this direction, in the framework of globalization context

The Foreign Affairs and National Security Strategies states the following strategies: -

1. Devote prime focus to activities at home2. Strategy Centered on Economy3. Full Utilization of benefits based on proper analysis4. Minimizing threats on the basis of proper Analysis5. Reducing Vulnerabilities to threats6. Building strong implementation Capabilities7. Building Reliable Defense Capability

Military Strategy Military strategy is one part of this all-encompassing

national strategy. The military component of our national strategy is

sometimes referred to as national military strategy—military strategy at its highest level, and differentiated from operational strategies used as the basis for military planning and operations.

Military strategy must support national strategy and comply with national policy—a broad course of action or statements of guidance adopted by the government at the national level in pursuit of national objectives

Military Strategy = Military Objectives + Military Strategic Concepts + Military Resources.

The objectives should be military in nature. While Clausewitz, Lenin, and Mao have all emphasized the integral relationship of war and politics, military forces must be given appropriate missions within their capabilities.

Liddell Hart stresses that: In discussing the subject of “the objective” in war it is essential to be clear about, and to keep clear in our minds, the distinction between the political and the military objective.

The two are different but not separate. For nations do not wage war for war’s sake, but the pursuance of policy.

The military objective is only the means to a political end. Hence the military objective should be governed by the political objective, subject to the basic condition that policy does not demand what is militarily—that is practically—impossible.