The Department of Non-State

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Matthew Armstrong's thought provoking article in this month's Foreign Policy magazine asks some serious questions about the United States' lead foreign affairs agency.

"Envision a State Department capable of leading whole-of-government initiatives with a strategic focus instead of one hidebound department geared by structure and tradition to execute state-to-state diplomacy. This "Department of State and Non-State" would be as deft at tackling stateless terrorist networks and hurricanes as it would be at fostering and upholding alliances with foreign ministers. To transform Foggy Bottom in this way will require breaking the rigid hierarchy, stovepipes, and bottlenecks which make the Pentagon look lean and dynamic in comparison."

Adapting to the 21st century global security environment in general (and non-state actors in particular) is a fundamental challenge facing the U.S. government. 

 - Andrew [at] Insurgent Consciousness