CONTRIBUTION TO THE DEFINITION OF A METHODOLOGICAL APPROACH TO DEVELOPING STRATEGIC DOCUMENTS IN THE FUNCTION OF DEFENSE PLANNING

U članku se prezentira model razvoja strateških dokumenata u funkciji obrambenog planiranja. Daje se kratak prikaz reformskih napora, jer stabilne i demokratske zemlje upravo karakterizira kontinuitet reformskih napora bez obzira na trenutni raspored političke moći. Predstavljaju se određeni empirijski rezultati istraživanja stavova hrvatske javnosti o karakteru prijetnje nacionalnoj sigurnosti Republike Hrvatske kao i sudjelovanja pripadnika Oružanih snaga Republike Hrvatske u međunarodnim vojnim misijama (operacijama). Pokazuje se da je potreba za organiziranim javnim raspravama kao i javnim politikama važna za uspostavu povjerenja između javnosti, političke države i sustava nacionalne sigurnosti čija je sastavnica obrambeno planiranje. U svjetlu nove sigurnosne paradigme i članstva Republike Hrvatske u NATO savezu analizira se suvremeni pristup planiranju snaga, izbora najbolje opcije i izrade strateškog pregleda obrane. U završnom dijelu naglašava se važnost izbora između više alternativa jer se time pridonosi transparentnosti procesa i proširuje mogućnost da se javnost uključi u ove važne procese strateškog planiranja obrane i strateškog odlučivanja.The article presents a model of developing strategic documents for the purpose of defence planning. It provides a short outline of reform efforts, because stable and democratic countries are characterized by the continuity of reform efforts regardless current distribution of political power. It represents particular empirical results of researching the standpoints of Croatian public regarding the character of threats to national security of the Republic of Croatia as well as the participation of members of the Croatian Armed Forces in international military missions (operations). It is shown that the requirement for organizing public discussions and public policies is important for establishing trust among the public, political state and national security system of which defence planning is a component. In the light of new security paradigm and membership of the Republic of Croatia in NATO – Alliance, contemporary approach to planning forces, selection of the best option and drafting Strategic Defence Review are analyzed. The closing part emphasizes the importance of selection among several alternatives because it contributes to transparency of the process and expands the possibility that the public is included in these important processes of strategic planning and strategic decision making