%0 Journal Article %T National Security Policymaking %J POLITICAL QUARTERLY %I %Z 1735-9678 %A Mosalanejad, Abbas %D 2020 %\ 09/22/2020 %V 50 %N 3 %P 967-989 %! National Security Policymaking %K Erosion strategy %K national security policymaking %K balance and erosion control %K strategic policymaking %K Theoretical Framework %R 10.22059/jpq.2020.303693.1007602 %X The circumstances governing the international system and global power structure are indicative of the spread of insecurity and crisis at varying local to international scales. As much as the development of pervasive and far-reaching crises has created challenges for the international security systems and requires the need for rearrangement of and transition from security ambiguities, it has similarly added to the importance of adopting efficient strategies and updating the national security policymaking structure of countries. “Erosion” as an ancient and efficient strategy adopted by different countries during wars, crisis control, and change in power balance is rooted in history, and has been used by weak or strong sides of various conflicts as a strategic initiative while incorporating efficient and economical mechanisms. Despite the wide applications of this strategy in national security policymaking, there is no formulated theoretical framework outlining its deep knowledge and effective use at the strategic, operational and tactical levels. The existing literature on erosion is of historical and descriptive nature and does not embody a theoretical framework. For this reason, the present study aims to provide a theoretical framework for the strategy of erosion in national security policymaking through review of theoretical literature and tapping scientific knowledge available in the fields of strategic management and strategic policymaking as well as scientific and historical information on the erosion strategy. The present study was carried out with a qualitative approach and by utilizing an analytical-descriptive method. Information was gathered on a library basis, and a deep qualitative analysis method was adopted for information analysis. %U https://jpq.ut.ac.ir/article_78480_924f567501da5a9119435865114632be.pdf