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Implementing military doctrine: A theoretical model
Swedish Defence University, Department of Military Studies, Joint Warfare Division, Joint Operations Section.ORCID iD: 0000-0002-3995-0885
2021 (English)In: Comparative Strategy, ISSN 0149-5933, E-ISSN 1521-0448, Vol. 40, no 3, p. 305-314Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

Ideally, military doctrines are not just written; they are implemented. However, there exists a theory gap on why new doctrines are sometimes successfully implemented and other times not. Based on ideas presented in previous research, this study develops a theoretical model for under what conditions new formal doctrines are most likely to be implemented. The model suggests that cultural coherence, authority and credibility are decisive for the implementation of new doctrine.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
2021. Vol. 40, no 3, p. 305-314
National Category
Political Science (excluding Public Administration Studies and Globalisation Studies)
Research subject
Krigsvetenskap
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:fhs:diva-10280DOI: 10.1080/01495933.2021.1912514OAI: oai:DiVA.org:fhs-10280DiVA, id: diva2:1591652
Available from: 2021-09-07 Created: 2021-09-07 Last updated: 2025-04-23Bibliographically approved
In thesis
1. Implementing Military Doctrine
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Implementing Military Doctrine
2025 (English)Doctoral thesis, comprehensive summary (Other academic)
Abstract [en]

This thesis is about the relationship between written doctrine and the behaviour of armed forces. To the optimist, it might seem obvious that militaries behave in accordance with their doctrine – the authoritative nature of doctrine and obedient character of militaries suggest that what is prescribed in text should also be reflected in how the organisation operates. But to the sceptic, doctrine is doomed to be hopelessly out of touch with the realities of war and is likely to have limited, if any, impact on military behaviour. What is puzzling is that despite these binary and contrasting views there is variation in how doctrine is implemented, but previous research lacks both theory and empirics with which to explain such variation. This thesis is guided by the research problem of what is the relationship between doctrine and military behaviour? This is divided into three research questions: how is doctrine implemented, why does doctrinal implementation vary and what effects does varied implementation have on the utility of doctrine? These questions are addressed through four original essays and my primary contribution is a theoretical framework with three core components. I define doctrinal implementation and provide a typology of outcomes. I develop theory on doctrinal reluctance and four explanations as to why implementation varies. I discuss how varied implementation affects the utility of doctrine and identify a novel utility in the use of doctrine as a tool of debate. Beyond the theoretical framework, I also make an empirical contribution with novel data collected through interviews in the Norwegian and Swedish defence establishments. Taken together, this thesis further unpacks the relationship between doctrine and military behaviour, contributing to our understanding of the strategic functions of doctrine as a force multiplier, means of control and as a component in military transformation.    

Abstract [sv]

Avhandlingen undersöker förhållandet mellan skrivna doktriner och militär praktik. För optimisten kan det verka självklart att försvarsmakter agerar i enlighet med sin doktrin – doktriners auktoritativa natur och hierarkin i militära organisationer antyder att vad som är skrivet även borde utföras. Men för skeptikern är det mer sannolikt att doktrinen uppfattas som hopplöst frånkopplad från krigets verklighet och har begränsad, om ens någon inverkan. Trots dessa kontrasterande synsätt på doktrin finns det stor variation i hur doktriner har implementerats historiskt, men tidigare forskning saknar både teori och empiri för att förklara denna variation. Den här sammanläggningsavhandlingen är strukturerad utifrån forskningsproblemet vad är förhållandet mellan doktrin och militär praktik? Problemet är indelat i tre forskningsfrågor: hur implementeras doktrin, varför varierar doktrinär implementering och vilka effekter har varierad implementering på doktriners användbarhet? Dessa forskningsfrågor behandlas i fyra vetenskapliga artiklar och mitt huvudsakliga bidrag är ett teoretiskt ramverk med tre huvudkomponenter. För det första definierar jag doktrinimplementering och presenterar en typologi med möjliga utfall. För det andra utvecklar jag teori bestående av fyra förklaringar till varför implementering varierar. För det tredje diskuterar jag hur varierad implementering påverkar doktriners användbarhet och identifierar ett nytt användningsområde för doktriner som verktyg för debatt. Utöver det teoretiska ramverket bidrar jag också empiriskt med nya data insamlad genom intervjuer inom det norska och svenska försvaret. Sammantaget bidrar avhandlingen till en djupare förståelse om förhållandet mellan doktrin och militär praktik och därmed vår kunskap om vilken roll doktrin spelar som en styrkemultiplikator, ett medel för kontroll, samt som komponent i militär förändring.    

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Stockholm: Försvarshögskolan (FHS), 2025
Series
Swedish Defence University Thesis Series, ISSN 2004-6871 ; 2, 2025
Keywords
: Military doctrine, implementation, military power, military transformation, war studies, policy implementation., Militära doktriner, implementering, militärmakt, militär transformation, krigsvetenskap, policyimplementering
National Category
War, Crisis, and Security Studies
Research subject
War Studies
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:fhs:diva-13626 (URN)10.62061/kona8013 (DOI)978-91-88975-54-6 (ISBN)
Public defence
2025-05-23, Sverigesalen, Drottning Kristinas väg 37, Stockholm, 13:00 (English)
Opponent
Supervisors
Available from: 2025-04-23 Created: 2025-04-23 Last updated: 2025-04-23Bibliographically approved

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