Abstract
This article argues that intellectual interoperability—the cognitive and conceptual alignment necessary for multinational partners to coordinate decision making effectively—is a critical, yet undervalued, dimension of security cooperation. While considerable scholarship already explores technical and procedural interoperability, this piece examines its human dimensions and demonstrates their significance through an evidence-based analysis of gaps observed in Afghanistan (2001–21). Drawing on policy documents, doctrine, scholarly literature, and one author’s firsthand experience as a Ministry of Defense adviser in Afghanistan, this article offers military and policy practitioners three actionable lessons for building security partnerships resilient enough to withstand strategic pressure.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
10.55540/0031-1723.3409
Recommended Citation
Sae Schatz & Scott C. Buchanan, "Intellectual Interoperability: Lessons from Afghanistan for Security Cooperation," Parameters 56, no. 3 (2026), doi:10.55540/0031-1723.3409.