Improving National Capacities for Response to Complex Emergencies.
Abstract
This paper evaluates how the U.S. government coordinates its responses to post- Cold War complex emergencies. Given that the U.S. may choose to be involved in future responses, it argues that the U.S. must adapt its bureaucratic procedures to take account of the new reality of internal conflicts. This adaptation will entail changing the policy-making process to permit timely anticipation of and effective response to humanitarian crises. The aim is to improve policy planning and implementation, increasing US policy coherence and effectiveness white avoiding the pitfalls that have come to typify these operations in practice. The paper begins at the root of the coordination problem: the tasks required on the ground and the actors who can perform these tasks. This assessment highlights the complexity of these emergencies and points out the formidable challenges of coordination at the national policy level. This analysis illuminates four requirements for improved policy coordination. The paper next considers three cases -- Somalia, Haiti and Bosnia -- to compare how the U.S. government coped with unfolding events. The paper concludes with specific recommendations for improving coordination within the U.S. government.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 01, 1997
- Accession Number
- ADA329098
Entities
People
- Douglas E. Lute
Organizations
- United States Army War College