Grand Strategy

Grand strategy is an overarching approach that a state or other actor uses to achieve its most important goals. At its core, grand strategy is about how policymakers use the full range of tools of statecraft—political, economic, and security—to navigate a complex global environment and advance long-term national objectives. Grand strategy aims to answer a few big questions—what are our vital interests, what threats matter most, and how do we use our capabilities in a coherent way to shape the international environment. Stimson’s research and engagement on grand strategy analyzes long-term national and international strategies that shape global order and state behavior to explore how governments prioritize resources, manage risks, and pursue strategic objectives over time, integrating these tools across regions and issue areas, rather than treating them in isolation.