Identifying Factors to Compare Responses to Hybrid Threats: Analysis of Strategic Cultures to Understand Country Differences
conference paper
The changing security environment the Alliance faces today includes the emerging threat of hybrid conflict. This influences NATO’s deterrence and defence posture. Examples include: information manipulation and interference by foreign actors, targeted actions aimed at disrupting infrastructure or proxy activities paving the way for open war. Various member states have institutionalised counterhybrid strategies, legislations, decision-making processes and tailored policy measures to respond to such threats. These instruments can have a positive effect on the resilience of a society and a deterrent effect on adversaries. To investigate different national responses, they need to be placed in a country’s specific context in terms of basic geographical, historical and social characteristics as well as its strategic culture. Strategic culture refers to norms, ideas and practices that influence decision-making and ultimately the creation of a grand strategy to achieve strategic political objectives. Whereas strategic culture analysis is traditionally focused on explaining the use of force in international relations, we hypothesise that there is merit in applying it to a broader range of responses at a state’s disposal, specifically in the context of hybrid threats. Analysing strategic cultures this way may enhance understanding of various member states’ responses to hybrid threats and thus contributes to understanding of NATO’s deterrence and defence posture.
TNO Identifier
995611
Publisher
NATO
Source title
Proceedings of the 17th NATO Operations Research and Analysis (OR&A) Conference