CNAS Launches Project on Diplomacy and Development

To help inform the Quadrennial Diplomacy and Development Review (QDDR) the Center for a New American Security launched today its project on Reinvigorating American Diplomacy and Development with the release of two policy briefs on the QDDR, Engaging the Private Sector for the Public Good: The Power of Network Diplomacy by CNAS Vice President Dr. Kristin Lord and Learning from Experience: Lessons from the QDR for the QDDR by CNAS Research Associate Brian Burton.

To help inform the Quadrennial Diplomacy and Development Review (QDDR) – a process to assess State and USAID’s roles in meeting U.S. national security and foreign policy objectives and define new priorities, resources, and reforms moving forward – the Center for a New American Security (CNAS) launched today its project on Reinvigorating American Diplomacy and Development with the release of two policy briefs on the QDDR. 

Engaging the Private Sector for the Public Good: The Power of Network Diplomacy, by CNAS Vice President and Director of Studies Dr. Kristin Lord, makes a compelling case for how the State Department could embrace network diplomacy by creating an independent organization – called USA•World Trust – that would unleash the power of the private sector to further America’s public diplomacy objectives. The USA•World Trust could help build the public and private partnerships needed to further national interests and tackle 21st century challenges in ways the State Department alone cannot.

“Network diplomacy will not be easy. It will require the State Department to recognize that an organization such as the USA•World Trust is in its interest and would provide it with a powerful new set of tools,” writes Lord. “But network diplomacy is precisely the concept America needs to engage the rest of the world more persuasively and credibly.”

Download the full policy brief here.

Learning from Experience: Lessons from the QDR for the QDDR, authored by CNAS Research Associate Brian Burton, lays out lessons learned from the Department of Defense’s Quadrennial Defense Review (QDR) – which outlines defense priorities and strategy and relates them to the military’s force structure, modernization plans, and budget – that the State Department and USAID can learn from to optimize the review process and avoid common pitfalls.

“Despite substantial differences in mission, personnel, resources, and culture between the DOD and civilian agencies, a QDR-type process is an effective way of tackling serious questions about State and USAID’s strategies going forward and the institutional changes they need to make to better execute their missions,” writes Burton. “Navigating this process will be challenging but ultimately worthwhile if it can serve as the first step toward revitalizing the diplomatic and development instruments America needs.”

Download the full policy brief here.

Find out more about the Reinvigorating American Diplomacy and Development project here.

 
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The Center for a New American Security (CNAS) is an independent and nonpartisan research institution that develops strong, pragmatic and principled national security and defense policies that promote and protect American interests and values. CNAS leads efforts to help inform and prepare the national security leaders of today and tomorrow.