32 Facts About Edward Luttwak

Edward Nicolae Luttwak was born on 4 November 1942 and is an American author known for his works on grand strategy, military strategy, geoeconomics, military history, and international relations.

Edward Luttwak is best known for being the author of Coup d'Etat: A Practical Handbook.

Edward Luttwak's books are currently published in 29 languages besides English.

Edward Luttwak then studied analytical economics at the London School of Economics.

Edward Luttwak graduated from the London School of Economics in 1969.

Edward Luttwak was a war volunteer in Israel in 1967 and later worked for the Israel Defense Forces.

Edward Luttwak graduated with a PhD in International Relations in 1975.

Edward Luttwak suggested that US Marines, assisted by the 82nd Airborne Division, should storm the eastern beaches of Saudi Arabia.

In 1976 Edward Luttwak published The Grand Strategy of the Roman Empire from the First Century AD to the Third, which generated controversy among professional historians who saw Edward Luttwak as an outsider and a non-specialist in the field.

Since Edward Luttwak published that book in 1976, a dozen studies of Roman frontier deployments, Roman strategic culture, and Roman decision making have been published.

Later Edward Luttwak started researching the Byzantine empire, beginning with its earliest surviving texts.

In 1987 Edward Luttwak published Strategy: The Logic of War and Peace.

Edward Luttwak suggested, for example, that attempts by major powers to quell regional wars actually make conflicts more protracted.

Edward Luttwak went on to provide consulting services to multinational corporations and government agencies, including various branches of the US government and the US military.

Edward Luttwak has served on the editorial boards of Geopolitique, the Journal of Strategic Studies, The European Journal of International Affairs, and the Washington Quarterly.

Edward Luttwak speaks English, French, Hebrew, Italian, and Spanish, in addition to his native Romanian.

Edward Luttwak was a lecturer in economics at the University of Bath from 1964 to 1966.

In 2004 Edward Luttwak was awarded an honorary doctorate degree from the University of Bath.

Edward Luttwak has received honorary degrees from a university in Arad, Romania and another from Timisoara's University as well as the University of Bucharest.

Edward Luttwak was not some person who had read a bit of Tacitus and now worked at the Pentagon.

Edward Luttwak knew all the languages, the geographies, the cultures, the histories.

Edward Luttwak is the most bizarre humanist I have ever met.

In 2009, Richard Posner analyzed intellectuals with a public profile in the US Posner claimed that Edward Luttwak sees many affinities between the United States and the declining Roman Empire, leading Edward Luttwak to predict a dark age in which the US population will experience decline into third world status.

In 2015, Luttwak predicted that the Middle East will be embroiled in internecine war for the next thousand years, thanks to the "brilliant stroke" of strategic genius, far exceeding even Bismarck's abilities, exemplified by George W Bush when he ignited a religious war between Sunnis and Shiites.

Edward Luttwak has long insisted on the necessity of a grand strategy, but he moved beyond preoccupation with military intervention, and started to theorize diplomacy and military alliances.

Edward Luttwak concluded that the Soviet Union relied entirely on military instruments for its grand strategy.

Edward Luttwak argued that Carl von Clausewitz's warning against aggressive wars was no longer relevant in the post-World War II era.

Edward Luttwak reasoned that when confronted with weapons of mass destruction, statecraft needed a grand strategy, that is, "the firm subordination of tactical priorities, material ideals, and warlike instincts to political goals".

Edward Luttwak describes himself as a "fanatical snorkeler" and exercises every day.

Edward Luttwak has a son and daughter, as well as three grandchildren.

Edward Luttwak has published other books in Italian and in Japanese only.

Edward Luttwak has written book reviews for publications such as The American Spectator, Commentary Magazine, London Review of Books, The New Republic, and The New York Times.