Nation-Building Exposes Two National Security Holes in the Whole of Government
Abstract
The recent conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan suggest the United States is much more adept at winning wars than it is at winning the peace. This problem is a double edged sword, because the same capabilities required to establish the conditions for a sustainable peace post-conflict are also typically required for pre-conflict engagements intended to prevent conflict. The urgency of this dilemma is compounded by the fact that while our world has and continues to grow more interconnected since the end of the Cold War, the frequency of United States stability operations has increased to roughly one new nation-building commitment every other year. Moreover, since the events of 9/11 demonstrated that instability anywhere can be a real threat to American vital interests, it follows that "ensuring the existence of stability everywhere ... becomes a national-security imperative." This paper suggests that a lack of soft power resources and poor integration of soft power and hard power are the two principal problems plaguing the United States' foreign engagement. Having identified the principal problems it outlines viable solutions for these issues.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 23, 2009
- Accession Number
- ADA500798
Entities
People
- Charles E. Bowers
Organizations
- United States Army War College