What we disagree about when we disagree about doctrine

2023/08/31 by Søren Sjøgren · 1 voice · 2 citations
Health Professions · Social Sciences · #Ethics in medical practice #Legal Education and Practice Innovations #Medical Malpractice and Liability Issues

paper · pdf · doi:10.1080/01402390.2023.2251170

openalex publication_date 2023/08/31 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/02

Abstract

Military doctrine is a form of organisational knowledge. Scholars argue that beneath written doctrine lies a set of deeply held beliefs about war and warfare that do not change even if the written doctrine does. This article explores the relationship between written military doctrine, the underlying beliefs about doctrine that govern its interpretation and application, and ultimately how militaries operate. The analysis is based on fieldwork at a NATO division and 33 interviews with commanders and senior staff officers. It suggests a typology that can be used to understand variances in doctrine and operational differences.

Citations

• Politics of Translation
• The Duality of Technology: Rethinking the Concept of Technology in Organizations
• A World of Standards but not a Standard World: Toward a Sociology of Standards and Standardization

Cited by

• Transformation of the Satya Adhi Wicaksana Doctrine: A contemporary study of building the integrity of law enforcement officers in the Attorney General's office of the Republic of Indonesia
• Entering the war machine: on construction of order in a multinational NATO headquarters

Discussions

• Doctrine is considered essential in the military profession. To some, doctrine is the final arbitrator in professional disputes. To others, it is a handrail. I have mapped out what military practitio [bsky, 4 points, 0 comments]

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