Pakistan's FATA -- A Wicked Problem

Abstract

In 1973, Horst Rittel and Melvin Webber, in a seminal article, described a new form of problem as "wicked," and called for new approaches to understanding and solving such problems. They demonstrated that "wicked" problems have unique attributes and characteristics that distinguish them from other problems. The United States' current struggle to solve the Pakistan sanctuary problem can be attributed to a failure by the administration and military to fully comprehend that this is a "wicked" problem and thus requires a new approach. To demonstrate clearly that the Federally Administered Tribal Area (FATA) is a "wicked" problem, this paper will explore each of Rittel and Webber's "wicked" problem attributes and apply them to the FATA problem in Pakistan. The author will then offer recommendations as to how the new Obama administration can solve the Pakistan FATA problem.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Mar 17, 2009
Accession Number
ADA497713

Entities

People

  • Bernie Mcmahon

Organizations

  • United States Army War College

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Biomedical
  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Materials and Manufacturing Processes

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Afghanistan
  • Asia
  • Cognition
  • Crime
  • Department Of Defense
  • Education
  • Governments
  • National Governments
  • National Security
  • Pakistan
  • Political Parties
  • Political Systems
  • Security
  • Terrorism
  • Terrorists
  • United States
  • War Colleges

Readers

  • Educational Psychology
  • Military and Counterinsurgency Studies.