Strategy and Statecraft: An Agenda for the United States in an Era of Compounding Complexity

JUNE 9, 2014 

Jacob Stokes, Julie Smith 

Reports 

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The Center for a New American Security (CNAS) released a new report today that analyzes the current foreign policy landscape and lays out an agenda for solving the biggest challenges facing U.S. global strategy. Written by Senior Fellow and Director of the Strategy and Statecraft Program Julianne Smithand Bacevich Fellow Jacob Stokes, “Strategy and Statecraft: An Agenda for the United States in an Era of Compounding Complexity,” examines the major problems U.S. policymakers confront when it comes to managing America’s role as world leader.

Ms. Smith and Mr. Stokes explore the core challenges the United States must meet in the areas of strategy and statecraft. Strategic obstacles include the growing diversity of actors, the increasing use of asymmetric capabilities and tactics, the evolving role of allies and partners, the eroding foundations of the international order and the blurring of lines between domestic and foreign policy. In terms of statecraft, the authors explore the ongoing civilian response gap, evolution of military tools, challenges presented by new or revitalized tools, waning U.S. influence in international organizations, contradictory public opinion and the government’s inability to manage risk effectively.

As the “volume and complexity of current and emerging security threats, and their interrelationships, creates daunting challenges” for the United States, the authors offer a research agenda aimed at establishing an affirmative, and affordable, foreign policy agenda.