THE MISSION OF THE MARATHON INITIATIVE IS TO DEVELOP THE DIPLOMATIC, MILITARY, AND ECONOMIC STRATEGIES THAT THE UNITED STATES NEEDS TO NAVIGATE PROTRACTED COMPETITIONS WITH GREAT POWER RIVALS. MOTIVATED BY THE CONVICTION THAT STRATEGY IS POSSIBLE AND NECESSARY, MARATHON'S FOCUS IS ON DEVELOPING SUCH STRATEGIES THROUGH DEEP, RIGOROUS, AND INDEPENDENT RESEARCH, INFORMED BY HISTORY, GEOGRAPHY, AND SCHOLARSHIP. MARATHON'S GOAL IS TO EQUIP AMERICA AND ITS LEADERS WITH STRATEGIES FOR THE HARDEST PROBLEMS OF GREAT POWER COMPETITION, STRATEGIES THAT ARE OF THE UTMOST RIGOR BUT AT THE SAME TIME RELEVANT, REALISTIC, AND VIABLE.