National Will: Achilles Heel in United States National Strategy

Abstract

National will is the Achilles heel in United States national strategy. The value of the psychosocial or national-will element of power is often neglected by national leaders in developing an appropriate national strategy to achieve national objectives. This paper reviews and evaluates the attitudes and characteristics of national will as a United States strategic weakness. The lack of interest or assessment of US national will is criticized in terms of its implications for policy. Without a consensus in national will, the United States will continue to experience a difficulty in performing effectively as a world leader. Americans must perceive a threat to our territorial integrity or a catastrophe before national will will allow for achievement of national objectives. Only when our national leaders seriously evaluate the psychosocial element of power and our citizens play a mature and responsible role in shaping national will will we have a national strategy worthy of the name.

Open PDF

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
May 01, 1990
Accession Number
ADA234908

Entities

People

  • Kevin A. Collins

Organizations

  • Air War College

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Energy and Power Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Agreements
  • Air Force
  • Congress
  • Economic Systems
  • Geography
  • Governments
  • Intergovernmental Organizations
  • International Organizations
  • Law
  • National Security
  • Political Systems
  • Public Policy
  • Second World War
  • Treaties
  • United States
  • War Colleges
  • Warfare

Readers

  • Strategic Security Studies