ABSTRACTAttempts at developing a taxonomic classification scheme for knowledge in the area of strategy contain major shortcomings. With the aim of breaking through the limitations inherent in these classification efforts, this article rejects the idea that strategic discourse is autonomous, and proposes instead that organization theories be considered, since these allow for the development of discursive forms in the field of strategy. Four types of strategic discourse are identified; these are the classical, contingency, socio‐political and socio‐cognitive forms. the authors also stress the importance of developing a critical form of discourse in this area of st