Defence Transformation and Political-Strategic Culture: A Framework for Future Research
Abstract
The use of the military by NATO member states is shaped by their perception of the world and the norms that they adhere to. This has significant consequences for the paths of defence transformation that states embark on. Although key values among NATO member states are similar, their translation to policy is not necessarily the same. At its core is the transatlantic divergence in political-strategic cultures and necessitates attention from both analysts and policy-makers. Four factors have given rise to the importance of political-strategic cultures as guiding principles of defence policy; the political system of NATO states, the changing nature of the security environment, historical experiences from past operations and the developments in the technological realm. Several methods are introduced to unearth political-strategic culture. What follows is that the European and American divergence in political-strategic culture is mainly the result of a variance in threat perceptions based upon an understanding on either relative or absolute security. This leads to a primary focus on stabilization operations on the one hand and combat operations on the other. Understanding what this implies for defence transformation is a key necessity for creating a holistic transatlantic approach to current security and defence issues.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 01, 2005
- Accession Number
- ADA472309
Entities
People
- Rem Korteweg