The EU Global Strategy and Defence: The challenge of thinking strategically about means

Abstract:

This paper argues that since strategy is about connecting ends, ways and means, the means constrain the ends. It would be unrealistic the European Union to set objectives for which the means are unavailable or cannot be acquired in time. But it would be equally unrealistic to underestimate the available means. To wilfully ignore one’s potential is to handicap one’s strategy from the outset.