How to avoid ontological security dilemmas: toward building a policy theory

Ontological security theory has increasingly informed research in international relations, yet its insights remain largely absent from policymaking. This article seeks to bridge that gap by offering a policy-oriented framework grounded in ontological security theory. Given the field’s theoretical diversity, practical indeterminacy, and normative complexity, translating its insights into policy guidance presents significant challenges. To address these, I propose a two-step approach. First, I identify three dilemmas that actors often face: the tension between ontological and physical security; the dissonance between competing internal identities (a dissonance dilemma ); and the trade-off between actors’ own security and that of others (a spiral dilemma ). These dilemmas underscore key tensions in decision-making and help render ontological concerns more actionable. Second, I outline three mechanisms for addressing these dilemmas: identifying sources of ontological insecurity; assessing the broader implications of security measures; and avoiding actions that needlessly threaten others’ ontological security. Rather than prescribing specific policies, this framework aims to sensitize policymakers to ontological dynamics and provide conceptual tools for navigating them. Recognizing such dilemmas can help prevent destabilizing behavior and foster more reflexive, conscious policy practices.