The word strategy is derived indirectly from the Greek, strategos, meaning 'general', and to many it is still narrowly associated with 'generalship' or 'the art of the general'. But as war and society have become more complicated that view has been challenged by the view which holds that strategy is an inherent quality of statecraft at all times, in peace and war and this is the way in which it is used in this course. Accordingly, this course is concerned to provide students with a critical understanding of how nation state actors seek peace and security through the art of controlling and utilising their resources -- economic, psychological, moral, political and technological. In effect, this is to study the highest type of strategy--sometimes called Grand Strategy, and will include such issues as the nuclear arms race, superpower nuclear doctrines, conventional war, counter-terrorism, and support for proxy-war and covert operations. From the grand strategic perspective of this course, therefore, the focus will be on the acquisition of power, and the role of force, violence, war and deceit as the means by which states seek peace and security. It will, in addition and necessarily, examine the intellectual character of strategy and significant components of the strategy of the United States. Finally, it should be understood that this course will approach the study of strategy by way of general concepts and practices; furthermore, for the most part, it will concentrate on the contemporary (recent and present day) strategies which are observable in global politics -- the overall purpose being to provide a useful introduction and complementary understanding to subjects such as international history and international relations / global politics which strategy and strategic studies borrow from and rely upon. Accordingly, particular attention will be paid to the theory and practice of the 'transformation of war' which has been most noticeable since the events of 11 September 2001 and the advent of the 'war against terror'.