The Making of U.S. National Security Policy: “We Have Met the Enemy and He is Us.”

04/09/2012
The PNSR Case Studies: The Bottom Line By Richard Weitz The case studies cover a necessarily limited number of national security challenges and analyze a correspondingly finite record of U.S. government performance. This limitation excludes extensive quantitative analysis. Even so, the issues covered, the geographic scope, and historical diversity of…

The US National Security System: Explaining Success or Failure

03/30/2012
The PNSR Case Studies: What Matters? By Richard Weitz Given this mixed historical record, what organizational and procedural factors underpin the (in)ability of the U.S. national security system to achieve desired outcomes? To better analyze this dynamic, PNSR cases sought to identify which conditions best explain the strengths and weaknesses…

American National Security Strategy: The Cost of Delay and Inefficiency

03/29/2012
by Richard Weitz The PNSR Case Studies: Outcomes, Achievements and Costs The case studies provide examples of policy successes that resulted in better relations with other countries, diminished strategic threats, improved economic opportunities, and enhanced American prestige. Effective U.S. planning and engagement in post-war Japan demonstrates the enormous benefits to…

Can the US National Security System Implement a Core Strategy?

03/27/2012
by Richard Weitz When the Obama Administration says it will shift national security strategy to the Asian pivot, can it do so?  Richard Weitz looks at the historical record in Administrations seeking to provide for a policy shift and a core strategic focus. The PNSR Case Studies: Achieving Unity of…