New threats, new identities and new ways of war: The sources of change in national security doctrine

Incremental adaptations in national security doctrines are part of the normal course of events, but rarely do states dramatically alter their national security doctrines or adopt a new national security identity. Dramatic discontinuities in the strategic, technological, and domestic environments, such as those ushered in by the end of the Cold War and the onset of the information age, can alter the foundations of long-standing national security doctrines and produce dissension over the precepts and policies that should replace them. This essay provides a framework for understanding 'national security uncertainty', its causes, and the consequences for diplomatic postures, resource allocation, military mission priorities, and domestic mobilization.