U.S. Army War College >> Strategic Studies Institute >> Publications >> Details

Conflict Management and "Whole of Government": Useful Tools for U.S. National Security Strategy?

Edited by Dr. Volker C. Franke, Dr. Robert H. Dorff.

Brief Synopsis

Today, America faces security challenges that are exceedingly dynamic and complex, in part because of the ever changing mix and number of actors involved and the pace with which the strategic and operational environments change. To meet these new challenges more effectively, the Obama administration advocated strengthening civilian instruments of national power and enhancing America’s whole of government (WoG) capabilities. Although the need for comprehensive integration and coordination of civilian and military, governmental and nongovernmental, and national and international capabilities to improve efficiency and effectiveness of post-conflict stabilization and peacebuilding efforts is widely recognized, Washington has been criticized for its attempts at creating WoG responses to international crises and conflicts that result in the overcommitment of resources, lack of sufficient funding and personnel, competition between agencies, ambiguous mission objectives, and the undermining of the military’s primary purpose of defending the national interest. Presenting the results of an international symposium held at Kennesaw State University in February 2011, this volume traces the genesis of WoG, critically examines current WoG practices, and draws lessons from the operational contexts of Iraq and Afghanistan. The first part of the book describes the overall global security context within which peacebuilding and stability operations are currently conducted, examines the merits of WoG approaches, and discusses their efficacy for responding to a range of emerging threats. The second part addresses some of the practical challenges of implementing WoG approaches for international conflict management and specifically for U.S. intervention in fragile states. The third and final part examines WoG efforts in the field and draws lessons learned from operational experiences in Afghanistan and Iraq that may be useful in future interventions.

You may also be interested in the following titles:

• 
  The Challenge of Drug Trafficking to Democratic Governance and Human Security in West Africa

• 
  War and Insurgency in the Western Sahara

• 
  Cyber Infrastructure Protection: Vol. II

• 
  Sharing Power? Prospects for a U.S. Concert-Balance Strategy

• 
  Egypt's New Regime and the Future of the U.S.-Egyptian Strategic Relationship

• 
  Making Strategic Sense of Cyber Power: Why the Sky Is Not Falling

• 
  From Chaos to Cohesion: A Regional Approach to Security, Stability, and Development in Sub-Saharan A...

• 
  Governance, Identity, and Counterinsurgency: Evidence from Ramadi and Tal Afar

Survey: Conflict Management and "Whole of Government": Useful Tools for U.S. National Security Strategy?

1. How would you rate the writing and overall quality?

12345

2. Is the content relevant for influencing present and future debates?

YesNoNo Opinion

Your Comments (No URLs Allowed):

If you'd like a reply to your comments, provide your email:
(optional)

Also by the /Editors:

National Security Reform 2010: A Midterm Assessment
Preparing for a Mid-Term Assessment of Leadership and National Security Reform in the Obama Administration
Leadership and National Security Reform: The Next President's Agenda
Educating International Security Practitioners: Preparing to Face the Demands of the 21st Century International Security Environment

View other pubs in the following categories:

Landpower Employment & Sustainment
Military Strategy and Policy
Civilian Roles
Nation Building