More than half of the world’s population lives in struggling and fragile states. Hundreds of armed groups, political movements, and extremists are competing for control of these territories, using irregular techniques. This current environment contrasts sharply with the kind of conflict and wars fought between states in the 20th century.
Yet the U.S. national security system–and those of most allies–is still too calibrated to clashes between major powers rather than the persistent conflicts that are now predominate. The traditional U.S. security paradigm and operational capabilities need adaptation.
The National Strategy Information Center worked with creative senior practitioners from democracies around the world to identify key 21st century actors, their visions, strategic cultures, and techniques. NSIC also examined effective practices from U.S. and foreign experiences.
Adapting America’s Security Paradigm and Security Agenda concludes that managing the complex dimensions of the 21st century security environment goes beyond force levels and firepower. The U.S. needs new or adapted capabilities to match the current environment, particularly:
- Intelligence Dominance focused on acquiring and operating with local knowledge;
- Security, Stability, and Rule/Culture of Law Teams trained to assist local leaders in fostering stability, development, and rule of law principles;
- Military Units organized and trained to address the full spectrum of irregular challenges;
- Strategic Communication, integrated with policy implementation;
- Coalition Builders–skilled professionals forging cooperation among local leaders.
Authors
Dr. Roy Godson, President, National Strategy Information Center, and Emeritus Professor of Government, Georgetown University.
Dr. Richard Shultz, Jr., Senior Research Fellow, National Strategy Information Center and Professor and Director of the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy’s International Security Studies Program at Tufts University.
Dr. Querine Hanlon, Associate Professor, College of International Security Affairs International at the National Defense University.
Dr. Samantha Ravich, former Deputy National Security Advisor to the U.S. Vice President.
The volume also contains original contributions on specific capabilities from Gen. Sir Rupert Smith; Dr. Marin Strmecki; Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad; and Kevin McCarty.
ISBN #978-0-9817776-2-7
April, 2011
225 pages
Now available for Kindle
Excerpts from the book
Chapter 4: Military Capabilities for “War Amongst the People”
Chapter 5: Stability, Security, Reconstruction, and Rule of Law Capabilities
Chapter 6: Political Capabilities to Stabilize Fragile or Post-Conflict States
Chapter 7: Intellligence Dominance Consistent with Rule of Law Principles
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