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This study adds to doctrine research by providing knowledge of how doctrines in the same hierarchy interrelate.

Based on a theory of hierarchical disharmony due to different ontologies of war at the different levels, a hypothesis is constructed that the descriptions of flexibility differ between the doctrines of the different levels.

Finkel’s model of flexibility is used to investigate whether the Swedish military strategic, operational and naval doctrines understand flexibility alike.

The result shows that the three doctrines in a few respects indeed are in dissonance. Thus, the hypothesis cannot be falsified. This strengthens the theory of the differing ontologies of war.