Improving Capacity for Stabilization and Reconstruction Operations

by Bensahel, Nora; Oliker, Olga; Peterson, Heather

• ISBN13: 9780833046987
• ISBN10: 0833046985
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 5/16/2009
• Publisher: RAND Corporation

Summary

Until recently, governments and militaries have preferred to focus attention and resources on conventional military operations rather than stabilization and reconstruction missions. Thus, skills and capacities for the latter set of missions have remained underdeveloped or have been allowed to atrophy. U.S. experiences in Iraq and Afghanistan have demonstrated, however, that improving U.S. capacity for stabilization and reconstruction operations is critical to national security. To help craft a way ahead, the authors provide an overview of the requirements posed by stabilization and reconstruction operations and recommend ways to improve U.S. capacity to meet these needs. Among other findings, the authors suggest that the United States

Table of Contents

Preface	p. iii
Figure and Table	p. vii
Summary	p. ix
Acknowledgments	p. xvii
Abbreviations	p. xix
Why Stabilization and Reconstruction?	p. 1
What Are Stabilization and Reconstruction?	p. 3
Who Conducts Stabilization and Reconstruction Tasks?	p. 4
The Challenge of Building and Leveraging Capacity	p. 12
What Do Stabilization and Reconstruction Operations Entail?	p. 13
Operational Requirements	p. 13
Defining Capacity Requirements	p. 25
Developing Capacity	p. 32
Recent Efforts to Build Capacity	p. 33
The Office of the Coordinator for Reconstruction and Stabilization: Creation, Interagency Direction, and Legislation	p. 33
S/CRS Concepts for Planning and Conducting Operations	p. 40
Efforts to Develop Civilian Capacity	p. 44
Remaining Challenges	p. 55
Conclusion	p. 61
Conclusions and Recommendations	p. 63
Emphasize Civilian Rather Than Military Capacity	p. 64
Realign NSC, State, and USAID Roles	p. 66
Fund and Implement the Civilian Stabilization Initiative	p. 68
Improve Deployable Police Capacity	p. 70
Improve Management for Stabilization and Reconstruction	p. 71
Ensure Coherent Guidance and Funding for Effectiveness and Sustainability	p. 74
Bibliography	p. 77
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