This Letort Paper explores the intersection of culture with strategy and policy. Given the recent emphasis and attention on cultural aspects of national security, this is a timely and appropriate contribution. The concepts and framework provided herein have formed the foundation for how the U.S. Army War College has incorporated culture in the study of strategy and policy, including its new approach to regional studies. This framework s not presented in a dogmatic fashion, but as one way to incorporate culture into strategic and political thinking. The Strategic Studies Institute is pleased to publish this foundational document on how we may approach the consideration of cultural factors in the formulation of strategy and policy.

Cultural Dimensions of Strategy and Policy (The Letort Papers)

Politics & Social Sciences

Jiyal Kim

Politics & Government

U.S. Army War College, SSI

On April 22, 2010, the Bush School of Government and Public Service and the U.S. Army War College, Strategic Studies Institute co-sponsored a colloquium in Washington, DC, on a midterm assessment of leadership and national security reform in the Obama administration. Panelists included experts from the Project on National Security Reform; the Foreign Policy Research Institute; the Hudson Institute; the Council on Foreign Relations; the Reserve Officers Association; the American Security Project; and Creative Associates International, Inc. The colloquium theme focused on the need for advancing the research and study of national security reform by engaging the invited participants to share their expertise on ways to develop a deeper awareness and understanding of the reform issues facing the U.S. Government. Three panels of national security experts discussed: ¿Assessing National Security Reform¿; ¿Legislative Imperatives¿; and, ¿Assessing National Security Reform-The Way Forward.¿ This book includes a summary of the panelists¿ presentations, along with chapters written after the colloquium to further address and to assess the effectiveness and the near-term potential for Obama administration's national security reform initiatives.

National Security Reform 2010: A Mid-term Assessment

Cerami, Joseph R. Et Al

Adapting, Transforming, and Modernizing Under Fire: The Mexican Military 2006-2011

Inigo Guevara Moyano

The principle security threat of the past several centuries¿war between or among major powers¿is gone. Two new types of threats have been introduced into the global security arena. Violent nonstate actors and other indirect political, economic, and social causes of poverty, social exclusion, corruption, terrorism, transnational crime, the global drug problem, and gangs are a few examples of these ¿new¿ threats to global security and stability. More and more, national security implies protection¿through a variety of nonmilitary and military ways and means¿of popular interests that add up to well-being. This broadened definition of the contemporary security problem makes the concept so vague as to render it useless as an analytical tool. The genius of Ambassador Stephen Krasner, however, helps solve the problem. His orienting principle for foreign policy and military management (responsible sovereignty/legitimate governance) focuses on the need to create nation-states capable of legitimate governance and to realize stability, security, and well-being for citizens. This concept has serious implications for the transition and relevance of armed forces and other instruments of power, as well as foreign policy. Thus, we: 1) define the contemporary security dilemma and the larger principle of Krasner¿s responsible sovereignty; 2) outline the major components of a legitimate governance paradigm; 3) discuss some considerations for foreign policy making and military management; and 4) argue that substantially more sophisticated security-stability concepts, policy structures, and decision and policymaking precautions are necessary if the United States is to play more effectively in the security arena now and in the future.

Ambassador Stephen Krasner's Orienting Principle for Foreign (and Military Management)- Responsible Sovereignty

Manwaring, Max G.

The Next Arms Race

As the United States and Russia negotiate to bring their number of deployed nuclear weapons down, China, India, Pakistan, and Israel continue to bump their numbers up while a growing number of smaller states develop "peaceful" nuclear programs that will bring them closer to getting bombs if they choose. Welcome to the brave new world of tighter, more opaque nuclear competitions, the focus of The Next Arms Race-a must read for policy analysts and planners eager to understand and prevent the worst.

Reference

Sokolski, Henry D.

Writing, Research & Publishing Guides

Transnational Organized Crime, Terrorism, and Criminalized States in Latin America: An Emerging Tier-One National Security Priority

Douglas Farah

Russia and The Current State of Arms Control

Blank, Stephen J.

The Future of American Landpower: Does Forward Presence Still Matter? The Case of the Army in Europe

Deni, John R.

State-Building Challenges in a Post-Revolution Libya

State-Building Challenges In A Post-Revolution Libya

El-Katiri, Mohammed

The Effectiveness of Drone Strikes in Counterinsurgency and Counterterrorism Campaigns

Walsh, James Igoe

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