Conclusion

Abstract

The conclusion focuses on the commonalities between the British and American cases, in particular the centrality of studying naval history, as advocated by Laughton, to furnish guidance when formulating strategic policy. It also revisits the three main themes that undergird the study: the interrelationship of ideas, culture and strategy; the internal shaping influences of naval policy formulation; and the explanatory value of both to a deeper understanding of the decisions of 1889 in Britain and the US. Finally, it considers what can be gleaned from both cases, not just about the decisions in and of themselves but also the implications for naval policy formulation, and the role of the methodology employed for future studies in the fields of naval history, strategic studies, and political science.