
An Evidence-Based Framework for NATO’s Human Security Approach
By: Alexander Gilder and Daniel Linsdell
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.31374/sjms.465 | Journal eISSN: 2596-3856
Language: English
Page range: 1 - 18
Submitted on: Aug 6, 2025
Accepted on: Dec 19, 2025
Published on: Jan 14, 2026
Published by: Scandinavian Military Studies
In partnership with: Paradigm Publishing Services
Publication frequency: 1 issue per year
Keywords:
© 2026 Alexander Gilder, Daniel Linsdell, published by Scandinavian Military Studies
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.