Author: LENNART MERTEN
Few tensions in national security policy are as persistent, or as consequential, as the one at the heart of this timely study: how to strike a balance between the imperatives of national security and the dynamism of commercial innovation. At first glance, the so-called “Commercial–National Security Dilemma” might seem abstract, but as this paper shows, the dilemma is intensely real. From the satellites that peer down from orbit to the artificial intelligence tools that are reshaping our economies, the technologies that promise to drive prosperity are the same technologies that adversaries could exploit to challenge our interests. The stakes could not be higher: mismanaging this tension means either stifling the vitality of American industry or compromising our collective security.
What makes this research stand out is not just the lucidity with which it traces the history of the satellite remote sensing sector—a quintessential example of a dual-use arena—but the careful, evidence-based framework it offers for thinking ahead. Rather than repeating tired arguments about trade-offs, Lennart invites us to consider this dilemma as a positive-sum challenge: one that can be addressed through smart incentives, flexible governance, and an appreciation of the sector-specific context.
