This thesis analyses the American approach to war and strategy within the context of a theoretical framework consisting of two parts: Clausewitzian theory and strategic cultural theory. The introductory chapter serves as the literature review and lays the foundation for the whole of the study. Chapter Two establishes the theoretical framework. Chapter Three exphcates what is commonly referred to as the "American way of war," and traces the roots of the Network-Centric Warfare (NCW)/Effects-Based Operations (EBO) construct. Chapter Four analyses the American strategic approach within the context of strategic cultural theory and finds that America's strategic behaviour is a product of her "culture of technology." The fifth chapter analyses the NCW/EBO construct within the context of Clausewitzian theory and finds that America's strategic paradigm is inconsistent with Clausewitz's teachings. Chapter Six provides a vignette to support earlier contentions. Chapter Seven summarises the Study, re-states preliminary findings, and offers some general conclusions about the American strategic approach.