Domains apart
How common terminology masks divergent U.S. and Nato Multi-Domain Operations concepts
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 19224682 |
|---|---|
| Authors | John Nisser (0000-0002-3995-0885, Swedish Defence University, corresponding author) |
| Year | 2026 |
| Pages | 1-17 |
| Publication date | 2026-06-13 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Defence Studies (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 1470-2436 • E-ISSN: 1743-9698 |
| Publisher | Taylor & Francis (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1080/14702436.2026.2686611 |
| OpenAlex | W7164683758 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 27 |
Multi-Domain Operations (MDO) has become a central concept in contemporary Western military transformation, yet its meaning remains unsettled. This conceptual unclarity is problematic given that MDO is actively being implemented in armed forces ranging from the U.S. via NATO to countries like India and Japan. This article clarifies what MDO entails by comparing the two most influential formulations of the concept: the U.S. Army’s operationally focused MDO and NATO’s alliance-wide MDO concept. Through a structured comparison of doctrinal publications and related policy documents, this study shows that the U.S. Army conceives MDO as a service-specific warfighting concept aimed primarily at penetrating and disintegrating adversary anti-access area denial systems, whereas NATO employs MDO as a broader framework for deterrence, crisis management and the integration of military and non-military instruments of power. By distinguishing these conceptual logics, the study provides practitioners and policymakers with clearer definitions that can inform research, interoperability efforts, capability development, and multi-domain integration across the alliance
Adversary · Conceptual Blending · Denial · Interoperability · Terminology · Military History and Strategy · Military Strategy and Technology · Military, Security, and Education Studies
Empirical Research and Writing
The Culture of Military Innovation
The Sources of Military Change
Strategies for ensuring trustworthiness in qualitative research projects
Case Studies and Theory Development
Network Enabled Capability
Critically engaging the concept of joint operations
The role of ideas in defense planning
Document Analysis as a Qualitative Research Method
Sources of military change
The concept of security
Dangerous Changes
Nato, multi-domain operations and the future of the Atlantic Alliance
Nato's Transformation Gaps
Innovate or die’
Military Innovation Studies
Multilevel Research Designs
| Citation velocity | historical |
|---|---|
| Highly cited | No |