Dissonance of Strategic Culture in Defense Policy

Abstract

Dissonance is a concept that comes from the study of psychology or something commonly called cognitive dissonance, which means a state of discomfort or dilemma which is the result of conflict between two beliefs. This thought arose because of what has been known to humans so far trying to stick to one thought. But at certain times, it happened clashes of beliefs that make a person no longer consistent on one particular thought and pattern of behavior, that is what is referred to later as dissonance. The use of the term 'consonance' refers to consistency, while 'dissonance' describes inconsistency.Strategic decisions are generated not only by such structural conditions international system, but most importantly by domestic political factors others, such as their imperial heritage and perception of the state.They plays important role in interpreting historical memory, national symbols, constructing myths, including the national identity of a country thereby forming a belief system which is a manifestation of how does the political elite understand who they are and how ideal the state is behave through defense policy. The role of the political elite is important because it is the owner of power in framing historical narratives, and creating political discourse, they are also capable producing norms, including redefining and adopting an idea from a variety of kinds of ideas that exist, in accordance with what is believed by the elite as the best in in order to achieve their interests.