Why the U.S. Needs a Lead Strategist—and Why It Won’t Find One

Why the U.S. Needs a Lead Strategist—and Why It Won’t Find One
President Barack Obama walks with his National Security Advisor Susan Rice, Antalya, Turkey, Nov. 15, 2015 (AP photo by Susan Walsh).

In a recent report from the influential Center for a New American Security, Michele Flournoy, the center’s current head who served as the undersecretary of defense for policy during the first Obama administration, pointed out that the next president must “articulate a clear vision of U.S. leadership in the world and take concrete steps to demonstrate the United States’ willingness and ability to uphold its commitments and defend its interests, values, and allies around the world.”

This is important advice, but articulating a presidential vision alone does not mean it will be implemented. Nor will it make a real difference, so long as the American political system remains an inhospitable place for strategy.

Strategy is a peculiar, difficult and at times counterintuitive art. It is designed to control risk, maximize effectiveness and increase the chances of success during the mobilization and application of power—particularly but not exclusively military power. It entails order extended in time, space and milieus. Strategy attempts to impose coherence and predictability on an inherently disorderly environment composed of thinking, reacting, competing and conflicting entities.

Keep reading for free!

Get instant access to the rest of this article by submitting your email address below. You'll also get access to three articles of your choice each month and our free newsletter:

Or, Subscribe now to get full access.

Already a subscriber? Log in here .

What you’ll get with an All-Access subscription to World Politics Review:

A WPR subscription is like no other resource — it’s like having a personal curator and expert analyst of global affairs news. Subscribe now, and you’ll get:

  • Immediate and instant access to the full searchable library of tens of thousands of articles.
  • Daily articles with original analysis, written by leading topic experts, delivered to you every weekday.
  • Regular in-depth articles with deep dives into important issues and countries.
  • The Daily Review email, with our take on the day’s most important news, the latest WPR analysis, what’s on our radar, and more.
  • The Weekly Review email, with quick summaries of the week’s most important coverage, and what’s to come.
  • Completely ad-free reading.

And all of this is available to you when you subscribe today.

More World Politics Review