Celebrating Professor Isabelle Duyvesteyn’s Contribution to Strategic Studies: Co-Editing Two Significant Volumes
The Cambridge History of Strategy explores how leaders of different social groups, civilisations, empires and states have practised strategy over the course of three millennia. With contributions written by leading experts in each subject, The Cambridge History of Strategy offers new perspectives on the history of strategy. We are thrilled to announce that our Chair Professor Isabelle Duyvesteyn has co-edited two significant volumes in the field of strategic studies, in collaboration with Professor Beatrice Heuser from the University of Glasgow.
Editing Two Volumes in The Cambridge History of Strategy
Volume 1: From Antiquity to the American War of Independence
Volume I of The Cambridge History of Strategy traces the evolution of strategic practice from the earliest recorded history up to the late eighteenth century. Featuring contributions from an international team of scholars, this volume examines how strategy was conceived and implemented across various civilizations, from ancient Greece and China to the Ottoman and Mughal Empires and the American Revolutionary War. The chapters explore key themes such as decision-making processes, the causes and objectives of wars, the tools of strategy in both war and peace, and the configurations of armed forces, offering a comparative analysis of how political goals have historically aligned with military means across different cultures and time periods.
Volume 2: From the Napoleonic Wars to the Present
Building on the first volume, Volume II focuses on the practice of strategy from 1800 to the present day. A diverse group of eminent scholars examines how leaders of states, empires, and non-state actors—such as guerrilla forces and terrorist groups—have shaped and executed strategy in the modern era. This volume emphasizes the practical aspects of strategy, illustrating how real-world experiences often depart from theoretical models. Through a series of case studies, the volume challenges dominant perspectives in strategic studies, presenting strategy not as a deliberate, premeditated process but rather as an ad hoc and often chaotic response to circumstance and opportunity.
Professor Duyvesteyn holds the position of Professor of International Studies and Global History at the Leiden University Institute for History. She completed her PhD at the Department of War Studies at King’s College in London and has previously worked at the Royal Military Academy in the Netherlands and the Netherlands Institute for International Relations. She is a laureate of the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO), having received both a VIDI and an Aspasia research grant. We are also proud to call her the Program Chair of our BA International Studies, where she plays a vital role in shaping the academic experience of our students and staff.
These publications represent a substantial contribution to the field of strategic studies, reflecting Professor Duyvesteyn's dedication to advancing our understanding of historical and contemporary strategic practices.
For more information on Professor Duyvesteyn's work and publications, please visit her profile on the Leiden University website. Click here to access the edited volumes!
