Analysing armed forces transformation: methodology and visualisation

Abstract

There is scant research on models for visualising strategies retrospectively. The authors present a new analytical, visual methodology for assessing the transformation of armed forces, which is usually considered to be the “second dimension” of strategy. It is novel and generally applicable to armed forces, and additionally provides several benefits, in particular with regard to its synoptic character. The methodology translates a sociological approach into strategic studies, a discipline which has not really developed its own yet. It is exemplified by means of the (airborne part of the) Swiss Air Force's transformation since the end of the Cold War.