Securing Gains in Fragile States Using U.S. Leverage in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Beyond
Abstract
The U.S. experiences in Iraq and Afghanistan and the resulting U.S. military doctrine emphasize the need for the United States to consolidate the gains it has realized on the battlefield. Recognizing this need, however, is much easier than understanding the measures necessary to succeed. Both U.S. decisionmakers and a variety of analysts have generally agreed that broad-based, inclusive governance and institutionalized capacity-building consistent with the rule of law are the long-term goals for stabilizing fragile states. How to realize these goals is much more contentious. This report provides research to advance at least partial answers to these questions. The policy community has long been divided about the practicality of using leverage and specific conditions on military and civil assistance to nudge local partners toward better governance practices. The findings in this report suggest that conditionality measures can indeed work, so long as leverage strategies are appropriately designed, and success is defined in appropriately modest and incremental terms.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 2021
- Accession Number
- AD1136592
Entities
People
- Inhyok Kwon
- Jason H. Campbell
- Jeffrey Martini
- Mark Toukan
- Stephen Watts
Organizations
- RAND Corporation