Peacekeeping and Conflict Transitions: Background and Congressional Action on Civilian Capabilities

Abstract

The State Department's new Office of the Coordinator for Reconstruction and Stabilization (S/CRS) is intended to address longstanding concerns, both within Congress and the broader foreign policy community, over the perceived lack of the appropriate capabilities and processes to deal with transitions from conflict to sustainable stability. These capabilities and procedures include adequate planning mechanisms for stabilization and reconstruction operations, efficient interagency coordination structures and procedures in carrying out such tasks, and appropriate civilian personnel for many of the nonmilitary tasks required. Effectively distributing resources among the various executive branch actors, maintaining clear lines of authority and jurisdiction, and balancing short- and long-term objectives are major challenges for designing, planning, and conducting post-conflict operations. The Bush Administration has presented the 109th Congress with two funding requests for S/CRS and related projects. In the February FY2005 supplemental appropriations request, it has asked for $17.2 million for S/CRS operations. Of this, $9.4 million is for the initial stand-up costs of the office and $7.8 million is requested for the development of a rapid response cadre of State Department personnel and for the design of a training program and civil-military exercises for them. The Bush Administration's FY2006 budget request includes $24.1 million for the S/CRS operations, including the creation of 54 new positions in the office and the establishment of the 100-person "ready-response" cadre within the Department of State. The unit's members would be selected from the foreign service and civil service personnel and would be specially trained for post-conflict response missions. Once trained, members would continue to serve in positions in regional and function bureaus, but would be available for deployment as "first responders" when an intervention occurs.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Apr 13, 2005
Accession Number
ADA487291

Entities

People

  • Martin A. Weiss
  • Nina M. Serafino

Organizations

  • Library of Congress

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Biomedical
  • Human Systems

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Civilian Personnel
  • Department Of State
  • Employment
  • First Responders
  • Foreign Relations
  • Governments
  • Interagency Coordination
  • International Organizations
  • International Relations
  • Law
  • Local Governments
  • Military Operations
  • National Politics
  • National Security
  • Nongovernmental Organizations
  • Personnel Management
  • United States

Readers

  • Government and Public Administration Law.
  • Military and Counterinsurgency Studies.
  • Public Financial Management and Budgeting