Effective Persistent Engagement Must Be Whole-of-Government by Vera Zakem, War on the Rocks
While persistent engagement seems the way of the future, it certainly won’t be easy. Successful persistent engagement will have to address a wide range of issues from human security, environmental, and economic concerns, to regional conflicts and the proliferation of weapons, illegal goods, and crime. In doing so, the United States will need to leverage all of its capabilities and blend them together in a whole-of-government approach. Persistent engagement will require the weaving together of elements of U.S. hard and soft power, including initiatives in international development, diplomacy, defense, intelligence, and homeland security. Though America’s record of successfully leveraging whole-of-government capabilities is mixed, successful persistent engagement is impossible without it. An effective whole-of-government approach will enable the U.S. to overcome challenges and take advantage of opportunities with agility, flexibility, and innovation—crucial elements of effective persistent engagement…