This book presents a systematic comparison of the military strategies pursued by (5) great powers, (8) major-middle powers and (8) middle powers during the early 21st century. This book will be of interest to students of military and strategic studies, defence studies, foreign policy and International Relations in general.

Håkan Edström is a professor in Military Strategy at the Norwegian Air Force Academy in Trondheim, as well as associate professor in Security Politics at the Swedish Defence University, Stockholm.

Jacob Westberg is an associate professor in War Studies and senior lecturer in Security Policy and Strategy at the Swedish Defence University, Stockholm.

Contents

List of Figures and Tables

Acknowledgements

List of Abbreviations

Chapter 1: Introducing the Scope of the Book

Part I: Theoretical and Methodological Considerations

Chapter 2: Exploring Strategic Diversity

Chapter 3: Defining and Selecting Great Powers and Middle Powers

Chapter 4: Regional Dynamics and Unit-Level Characteristics

Chapter 5: The Constitutive Elements of Defence Strategy

Part II: Empirical Exploration

Chapter 6: The International Order and the International System

Chapter 7: The Ends

Chapter 8: The Alignment Strategies

Chapter 9: The Means

Chapter 10: The Ways

Part III: Conclusions

Chapter 11: Conclusions: Exploring Strategic Diversity in an Era of Unipolar Demise

Appendix 1: Military Expenditures in Constant (2022) USD billion

Index