Sheila R. Ronis

On November 8-9, 2011, the National Defense University (NDU) held a conference entitled "Forging an American Grand Strategy: Securing a Path Through a Complex Future." The discussion that began at that conference needs to be further developed and continued. More importantly, we, as a nation, need to explore together the path ahead as well as questions that have yet to be answered regarding how and why we, as a nation, struggle with grand strategies. If developed and executed with a systemic orientation, grand strategies could help us shape our future in an ever changing and complex world. This volume represents a compilation of some of the presentations given at the NDU conference. They represent the great diversity of opinions regarding this subject.

Timelines into the Future: Strategic Visioning Methods for Government, Business and Other Organizations argues that foresight is an important aspect of winning in the 21st Century. That includes countries, companies, and other organizations from universities to hospitals to non-profits. If the United States wants a future in which liberty, prosperity and peace are increasing throughout the world, the U. S. must remain a superpower. That requires planning, vision, and a grand strategy. Failure to develop a U. S. vision and national strategy that ensures our superpower status may yield a future where China or another emerging power will dictate the world. Every organization needs a vision, too-every company, non-profit, school, church, and government agency or department, whether they are local, state, national or global. The processes are all generally the same. This book addresses how to go about developing such foresight in establishing a grand strategy.