Strategic Culture: Concept and Application (Abstract) by Marvin Astrada

When considering the efficacy of a Strategic Culture (hereinafter SC) approach, it is important to clarify the terms that comprise such an approach. Culture (and the subset of political culture) is polysemic in nature, and does not lend itself to singular, objective, parsimonious definition. Broadly speaking, political culture can be conceived as "a conceptual umbrella for a wide and apparently heterogeneous range of political issue areas [such as,] national character, the impact of collective historical experience on national identity, and the emotional or normative [(psychic)] dimension of the relationship between the state and its citizenry," and the state and other state and non-state actors. This brief paper will thus discuss the components, themes, and implications of employing an SC approach to analyzing state behavior and perceptions of security.

Download Full Paper