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Photo: Air Force Tech. Sgt. Brigitte N. Brantley/Adobe Stock
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Formulating National Security Strategy

Past Experience and Future Choices

October 6, 2017

Download the Executive Summary Download the Report
 

Strategies are shaped by the processes that produce them. If designed well, a strategy formulation process enables decisionmakers to evaluate the political, security, and budgetary environments, identify choices for an organization, weigh risks, opportunities, and tradeoffs, and determine the best way forward. A strategy formulation process determines which issues will be raised for decision, how issues are elevated to senior levels, what options are presented, who participates in the decisionmaking, and how the results are communicated both internally and externally.

Formulating National Security Strategy: Past Experiences and Future Choices is released as the Trump Administration is developing a new defense and national security strategy. However, the strategy formulation process and the resulting documents have been heavily criticized in the past. This report, prepared for DOD and mandated by the Congress, identifies key choices for policymakers in constructing a strategy formulation process and makes recommendations on best practices based on analysis of previous processes.

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Written By
Mark F. Cancian
Senior Adviser, International Security Program
John Schaus
Senior Fellow, International Security Program
Rick McPeak
Brigadier General, U.S. Army, Retired
Andrew Metrick
Colin McElhinny
Hijab Shah
Melissa Dalton
Media Queries

Contact H. Andrew Schwartz
Chief Communications Officer
Tel: 202.775.3242

Contact Caleb Diamond
Media Relations Manager and Editorial Associate
Tel: 202.775.3173

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Defense 360, Defense Budget, Defense Strategy and Capabilities, Defense and Security, Geopolitics and International Security, International Security Program

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