Naslov
Sustainability in national defence

Autori
Smiljanić, Dražen

Vrsta, podvrsta i kategorija rada
Ocjenski radovi, doktorska disertacija

Fakultet
Faculty of military leadership

Mjesto
Brno, Češka

Datum
03.12

Godina
2020

Stranica
182

Mentor
Holcner, Vladan ; Matutinović, Igor

Ključne riječi
Sustainability ; sustainable development ; national security ; military instrument of power ; complexity ; resilience ; climate change ; energy ; energy security ; renewable energy sources ; defence economics

Sažetak
This dissertation, entitled "Sustainability in national defence", provide a qualitative analysis (interpretation) of the theoretical framework of sustainability and explores its potential application, mainly focusing on the Western national security and defence establishments and organisations. It also explores energy as a practical (applicable) aspect of that concept by providing a qualitative analysis. The primary purpose of the research is to analyse the relevance and applicability of sustainability to national defence. As a result, the ultimate expected outcome of this research would be to support developing actionable knowledge on “why” and “where” to apply sustainability concept/principles in national defence and to assist decision-makers in making strategic choices during the defence planning processes. The dissertation is positioned at the intersection between Defence Economics, International Relations (i.e. geopolitics), Security Science and Normative Ethics. By the use of mixed qualitative and quantitative research, it goes beyond the narrow cost- benefit explanations and technical understanding of sustainability. Starting assumption (and logical hypothesis) is that sustainability in defence reduces complexity, build resilience and increase efficiency. The topic of this dissertation, sustainability, by its basic definition, is comprised of three aspects, i.e. economic, social and environmental. We kept this broad perspective in the elaboration of the theoretical framework. However, due to the extensiveness of the topic, we limited the part that analyses the application of sustainability in defence to economic and security aspects. More concretely, we examined energy, a problem that is, evidently, important both for national economy and defence, and its use relates to the issues that add to the complexity of our economic and security environment. In two main parts of the research, the first comprising the theoretical framework and the second exploring one applicable aspect of sustainability in defence, this dissertation reconstructs the strategic and economic dimensions of sustainability in defence. Its qualitative approach dives deep into the sense- making processes, and the qualitative analysis may provide justification for decision-makers for their strategic choices related to the implementation of sustainability in defence. The results of the research demonstrate relevance and applicability of sustainability concept for the national security and defence, although, with necessary adaptation. Namely, this adaptation stems from the fact that sustainability was, initially, envisioned as a tool (a “way”) to respond to challenges at the “macro” level, i.e. state and international (global) level. To be applicable to defence organisation it has to be approached from the organisation’s level rather than a “macro” level.

Izvorni jezik
Engleski

Znanstvena područja
Ekonomija, Vojno-obrambene i sigurnosno-obavještajne znanosti i umijeće

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