Analytical capacity for national security

Geopolitical instability challenges established alliances, creating new weaknesses and threats to national security. This article uses literature of intelligence and governance to study how organisational factors influence ability to identify threats opportunities which adversaries could exploit to disrupt national security. Analytical capacity for problem solving can counter threats exploiting blindspots from organisational vulnerabilities. Empirical findings from Norwegian public documents, a case-study and interviews show that analytical capacity for national security in Norway is hindered by regulatory blindspots, lacking sense-of-urgency and bureaucratic resistance. The article offers lessons and tools for a wider audience to increase analytical capacity and remedy organisational vulnerabilities.