Despite America's superpower status, the US government is not as effective as it should be in conducting our day-to-day relations with the rest of the world. Leaders of the US military have been among the most outspoken advocates of boosting our civilian capacity, since they often must fill the gap and perform civilian functions such as reconstruction and even diplomacy itself.

The Stanley Foundation and the Center for a New American Security (CNAS) are collaborating on a new initiative that will focus on the disconnect between the urgency of the problem and the lack of commensurate political attention. The two organizations are looking at the problem in its largest dimensions and context. In the spring and summer of 2008, a series of working meetings will be convened with the full range of stakeholders—executive branch officials, US military officers, congressional staff, NGO and advocacy leaders, and policy experts—to discuss the way forward. A final report will be published in October 2008.

The project is being led by foundation program officer David Shorr, together with Derek Chollet and Vikram Singh of CNAS.

Surveying the Civilian Reform
Project Brief
Craig Cohen, Center for Strategic and International Studies  
Noam Unger, The Brookings Institution 

The Benefits of Augmented Civilian Capacity
Project Brief
Suzanne Nossel, Center for American Progress
David Shorr, The Stanley Foundation

The Challenges of Strengthening the US Government’s Civilian International Affairs Agencies
Policy Dialogue Brief

Improving US National Security: Options for Strengthening US Foreign Operations
Project Brief
Paul Clayman, APCO Associates 
Anne C. Richard, International Rescue Committee 

A Civil Affair: Past US Government Efforts to Generate Civilian Capacity
Project Brief
Nora Bensahel, RAND Corporation
Sarah Harting, RAND Corporation

The Roots of the United States’ Deteriorating Civilian Capacity and Potential Remedies
Policy Dialogue Brief