Security Force Assistance and Security Sector Reform
Abstract
In this monograph, Dr. Richard Shultz conducts a study of the coming requirements and likely contexts in confronting future security challenges. Specifically, he argues that weak and failing states will play a central role in coming conflicts. More importantly, the ungoverned/alternatively governed spaces within weak and failing states will provide the opportunity for violent extremist organizations (VEOs) to grow and extend their influence. Even more challenging, some states face threats from multiple VEOs operating from ungoverned/alternatively governed areas. As such, Dr. Shultz argues that the failing states represent a challenge not only locally, but as a threat to international security. How this challenge will be overcome is first by recognizing that future threats, generally, will not be state centric, but rather irregular in nature. Dr. Shultz advocates for not only engagement in these failing states, but to engage as early as possible to prevent the growth and festering of violent extremist organizations which will require larger more costly intervention later. He specifically recognizes the need for an irregular warfare tool to engage early through security sector reform to prevent just such growth. Dr. Shultz systematically addresses five issues in making the case for early engagement in weak and failing states: 1) What are the dimensions of weak and failing states? In what regions are these states clustered? 2) What is the relationship between weak and failing states and ungoverned or undergoverned territory where violent extremist groups may flourish? To what extent do these irregular conflicts coincide with weak and failing states? 3) Are there discernible patterns to post Cold-War and 9/11 irregular conflict? Will intrastate conflicts persist into the 21st century? 4) Which weak and failing states will have an impact on U.S. national security interests?
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 01, 2013
- Accession Number
- ADA591802
Entities
People
- Richard H. Shultz Jr.
Organizations
- Joint Special Operations University