Роль стратегічного мислення у зовнішньополітичному плануванні та управлінні

Abstract

The article addresses the essence of strategic thinking concept and its significance for national security policy-making in general and for foreign policy in particular. Academic literature analysis on strategy and business management, systemized and generalized, revealed two main views regarding strategic thinking concept: phenomenological, according to which strategic thinking is considered as a phenomenon or cognitive ability of the manager, which is characterized by specific attributes, and procedural, according to which strategic thinking is considered as a process. Based on the obtained data, the author’s definition of the multidimensional term «strategic thinking» was formulated and its essence was revealed, which provided an understanding of the strategic thinking process. At the same time, the concept is adapted to the context of security and foreign policy studies. Strategic thinking is determined to be the basis of the state strategic planning system, through which integrated national security policy is made. An attempt is made to outline the main characteristics of strategic thinking as a tool for conceptualizing the future and designing national security policy. An integrated scheme of strategic process (strategizing) is presented and its detailed description is provided. It is defined that strategic thinking is reflected in behavior and influences the national interest’s formulation, decision-making processes, goal setting and crisis response. That is, strategic thinking is the basis of the state strategic planning system, through which the state creates the main national security policy directions. At the same time, the sources of strategic thinking development are cultural and historical context and strategic knowledge. World politics history examples are given, demonstrating successful and erroneous use of strategic thinking in foreign policy making. The results of the study allowed making conclusions that emphasize the important role of strategic thinking in strategizing, national security policy-making and foreign policy. Perspective directions of further research, thus, can be connected with strategic thinking attributes specified list development as well as strategic thinking training process models development.