Paradigm Shifts： Is Strategic Studies Still Relevant to the World Today?

Historically, the origin of Strategic Studies begins very early days and its definitions and scopes evolve in correspondence with the change of time. During the Cold War era, the state-centric approach was considered a main drive for Strategic Studies, through which states have been seeking for their survival in the international community by force building. When bipolar system vanished, critics argued that the methodology of knowledge-building for Strategic Studies were apparently short of scientific proof and testability in the real world. Critics also challenged the feasibility of rational decision-making and predictability of Strategic Studies. This essay has collected some main critics and found that the course of Strategic Studies is evidently affected by strategic environment, which has rendered not only the danger of paradigm lost but a necessity of reflection for its stalemate. In so doing, the Strategic Studies may highlight its value and function so as to differentiate itself with Military Studies and Security Studies and establish specialty of its own discipline. In conclusion, the Strategic Studies has to abolish its outdated paradigm, as this essay indicates, and builds up its new research fields. In addition, whatever changes are made to the international environments, the Strategic Studies is still relevant to the world today because it is considered as indispensable means and instruments for national security and state survival. Key words: strategic studies, paradigm, deterrence, security studies