NATO Relevance: Military Implications and Translation of the 2010 Strategic Concept
Abstract
NATO has published seven Strategic Concepts in its sixty-year history; the most recent one was delivered at the November 2010 Lisbon summit, as NATO's 2010 Strategic Concept (2010 SC). This thesis analyzes the two-part argument that a concise, relevant and actionable 2010 SC, which is effectively translated and aligned into military policy and guidance, will enhance NATO's continued relevance through the next century. The initial focus delivers a historical summary of NATO and analyzes its first six strategic documentation efforts within their respective strategic environments, assessing their content, construct, and the degree to which they aligned with and contributed to the efficacy of the Alliance's efforts. The second focus of the thesis analyzes the 2010 Strategic Concept through three lenses: the background and method of its creation, the content and construct of the document itself, and the perspectives of several pundits. These three lenses provide an assessment of the document's concision and relevance. Finally, in order to enhance the degree to which the 2010 Strategic Concept is actionable, the author offers draft content for consideration in NATO's subsequent military translation of the Strategic Concept, leveraging an alignment with U.S. strategy. The thesis concludes that the 2010 Strategic Concept positively contributed to NATO's future efficacy and relevance, however, it left gaps in several areas. It avoided requisite prioritization, was overly complex, and left large gaps in the force structure resourcing expectations. The draft content offered would mitigate those gaps in the ongoing military translation.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 17, 2011
- Accession Number
- ADA545633
Entities
People
- Steven B. Snyder
Organizations
- National Defense University