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Development shouldn't be left to government aid agencies alone 'Smart power', where development and defence meet
(about 7 hours later)
The United States has not been getting high marks these days for good governance. But even in the best of times, balancing defence, diplomacy and development is largely an afterthought for both politicians and the American people. Years of military build-up, have left the linkages between these fields badly skewed, with Washington spending lavishly on defence but scrimping on long-term investments in diplomacy and development.The United States has not been getting high marks these days for good governance. But even in the best of times, balancing defence, diplomacy and development is largely an afterthought for both politicians and the American people. Years of military build-up, have left the linkages between these fields badly skewed, with Washington spending lavishly on defence but scrimping on long-term investments in diplomacy and development.
George Kennan summed up the 20th century American attitude towards national security as "the continued ability of the country to pursue the development of its internal life without serious interference … from foreign powers." That conception is outdated, and many of the challenges facing the US – from climate change to global food security or transnational terrorism – cannot be addressed through force alone. The era of splendid isolation has ended, like it or not.George Kennan summed up the 20th century American attitude towards national security as "the continued ability of the country to pursue the development of its internal life without serious interference … from foreign powers." That conception is outdated, and many of the challenges facing the US – from climate change to global food security or transnational terrorism – cannot be addressed through force alone. The era of splendid isolation has ended, like it or not.
In 2008, the Center for American Progress (Cap), a progressive think tank in Washington DC founded by former White House chief of staff John Podesta, launched the sustainable security project in an effort to develop solutions for these complex scenarios and better balance the three legs of America's international engagement. Too often, experts engage with military, diplomatic or development issues without focusing on how they intersect and interact. The sustainable security project seeks to examine these inextricable links to fashion more sensible approaches to international engagement.In 2008, the Center for American Progress (Cap), a progressive think tank in Washington DC founded by former White House chief of staff John Podesta, launched the sustainable security project in an effort to develop solutions for these complex scenarios and better balance the three legs of America's international engagement. Too often, experts engage with military, diplomatic or development issues without focusing on how they intersect and interact. The sustainable security project seeks to examine these inextricable links to fashion more sensible approaches to international engagement.
The project aims to reform the US approach by spending lean foreign assistance funds more effectively and efficiently, building institutional capacity in weak states and strengthening US engagement with the international community and institutions. While these reforms will not erase the need for traditional hard power, they will help decrease the need for military action. Former US defence secretary Robert Gates noted in a 2007 speech: "One of the most important lessons of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan is that military success is not sufficient to win. Economic development, institution-building ... providing basic services to the people ... are essential ingredients for long-term success."The project aims to reform the US approach by spending lean foreign assistance funds more effectively and efficiently, building institutional capacity in weak states and strengthening US engagement with the international community and institutions. While these reforms will not erase the need for traditional hard power, they will help decrease the need for military action. Former US defence secretary Robert Gates noted in a 2007 speech: "One of the most important lessons of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan is that military success is not sufficient to win. Economic development, institution-building ... providing basic services to the people ... are essential ingredients for long-term success."
Recently, the Obama administration has formulated a more coherent and integrated development and defence strategy. The Quadrennial diplomacy and development report published in 2010 received praise from both the defence and development communities for its attempt to develop a plan for "smart power." In 2012, president Obama announced the launch of the atrocities prevention board, seeking to make the deterrence of genocide and mass atrocities a core national security interest and core moral responsibility. In 2013, he announced plans to overhaul US food assistance, favouring cash transfers to purchase local goods rather than transporting them from afar, strengthening local economies and alleviating another factor that can lead to conflict.Recently, the Obama administration has formulated a more coherent and integrated development and defence strategy. The Quadrennial diplomacy and development report published in 2010 received praise from both the defence and development communities for its attempt to develop a plan for "smart power." In 2012, president Obama announced the launch of the atrocities prevention board, seeking to make the deterrence of genocide and mass atrocities a core national security interest and core moral responsibility. In 2013, he announced plans to overhaul US food assistance, favouring cash transfers to purchase local goods rather than transporting them from afar, strengthening local economies and alleviating another factor that can lead to conflict.
While these reforms are commendable, there is more to be done. In the past year, the sustainable security project has supported Cap chair John Podesta's work with the high level panel on the post-2015 development agenda, helping the panel develop a coherent global strategy that tackles the root causes of conflict and co-ordinates the effort to end extreme poverty with environmental sustainability. The resulting report submitted to secretary general Ban Ki-Moon emphasised the need to reach traditionally marginalised populations and support effective institutions and peace. According to Laurence Chandy of the Brookings Institution, approximately 40% of the world's poorest people live in fragile and conflict-affected states – lifting these people out of extreme poverty, a core UN goal, will require the international community to find a sustained end to conflict.While these reforms are commendable, there is more to be done. In the past year, the sustainable security project has supported Cap chair John Podesta's work with the high level panel on the post-2015 development agenda, helping the panel develop a coherent global strategy that tackles the root causes of conflict and co-ordinates the effort to end extreme poverty with environmental sustainability. The resulting report submitted to secretary general Ban Ki-Moon emphasised the need to reach traditionally marginalised populations and support effective institutions and peace. According to Laurence Chandy of the Brookings Institution, approximately 40% of the world's poorest people live in fragile and conflict-affected states – lifting these people out of extreme poverty, a core UN goal, will require the international community to find a sustained end to conflict.
Whatever the details of the post-2015 development agenda, the US and other developed countries must establish another 15 year commitment to co-operate on complex and far-reaching issues – the stakes are too high for inaction. Without government commitment reaching beyond aid agencies, poverty reduction efforts will flounder and the world will face increasingly complex problems in decades to come.Whatever the details of the post-2015 development agenda, the US and other developed countries must establish another 15 year commitment to co-operate on complex and far-reaching issues – the stakes are too high for inaction. Without government commitment reaching beyond aid agencies, poverty reduction efforts will flounder and the world will face increasingly complex problems in decades to come.
For the US, this will require greater co-operation between the departments of state and defence and USAid. Achieving greater co-ordination will require the support of organisations working on defence and development issues to help integrate interagency policies. The United States Institute of Peace – a nonpartisan federal institution that brings together defence and diplomacy experts to prevent, mitigate, and resolve armed conflicts – offers a successful model. The Usip helped form both the Iraq study group, which provided an assessment of and recommendations for the war in Iraq, and the genocide prevention task force, which formed the basis for the atrocities prevention board.For the US, this will require greater co-operation between the departments of state and defence and USAid. Achieving greater co-ordination will require the support of organisations working on defence and development issues to help integrate interagency policies. The United States Institute of Peace – a nonpartisan federal institution that brings together defence and diplomacy experts to prevent, mitigate, and resolve armed conflicts – offers a successful model. The Usip helped form both the Iraq study group, which provided an assessment of and recommendations for the war in Iraq, and the genocide prevention task force, which formed the basis for the atrocities prevention board.
Much like Congress today, development, defence and diplomacy actors need to stop talking at one another and instead come together to produce coherent strategies.Much like Congress today, development, defence and diplomacy actors need to stop talking at one another and instead come together to produce coherent strategies.
John Norris is executive director and Annie Malknecht is research associate at the Sustainable security and peacebuilding initiative at the Centre for American Progress. Follow @amprog on TwitterJohn Norris is executive director and Annie Malknecht is research associate at the Sustainable security and peacebuilding initiative at the Centre for American Progress. Follow @amprog on Twitter
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