Global Governance

The greatest security challenges the U.S. faces today come from strong states, not weak states.  In particular, U.S. foreign policy should focus on responding to the threats posed by China, Russia, North Korea, and Iran.

Specialized agencies have proved effective for solving international problems like regulating the sea, the exchange of mail internationally, and international aviation.  The U.S. should not neglect specialized agencies as a vector for protecting U.S. national security, particularly in the realm of cybersecurity.

The United States is facing a lack of consensus with its traditional allies about how today’s security challenges should be met.   In this environment, the United States should be more willing to rely on coalitions of the willing, partnering with those who share U.S. interests rather than striving to involve all countries across all issue areas.
Podcast: The Future of American Global Leadership

U.S. national security strategies often devote little attention to the institutional and procedural capacities required for successful implementation.  This essay reviews the current state of the national security bureaucracies and examines both their strengths and weaknesses.