The strategy of politics?

Politicians often talk about “strategy”. What do they mean by the term? Where does the development of political strategies take place? Who is involved in strategic processes? Which methods are used? Trying to answer these questions allows an interesting view behind the scenes of the political arena. Basis for the exploration of the topic are interviews with ministers, members of strategy units, party politicians, academics and journalists in Denmark, Germany, Great Britain and the USA. The analyses of the four research teams document a common understanding of strategy in the political realm of the four countries. They also show how much the meaning of strategy in the end depends on the political system and the political culture of a country.