Abstract/Summary

The article contends that the growing tendency to fragment the theory and practice of military force into increasingly narrow subcategories—often referred to as “salami-slicing”—is not only ineffective but also stifles originality and innovation in strategic thinking. Instead, adopting a more holistic and streamlined framework for understanding strategy would foster greater creativity. Effective strategy development also requires considering the context in which military force may be applied. Evaluating potential threats and analysing an adversary’s capabilities help shape an appropriate response. The prevalence of “salami-slicing” can, to some extent, be attributed to the stagnation of Western strategic thinking since the Cold War’s end. The key question remains: Has the West learned from its past mistakes, and if so, how is this reflected in NATO’s latest Strategic Concept?