Binding the Nation: National Service in America

Abstract

The United States has been at war for more than seven years, and end to its struggle against religious extremism is nowhere in sight. Thus far majority of campaign has been waged by military. With prolonged counterinsurgencies in Afghanistan and Iraq has come a growing realization that more alienated youth could appear on world's battlefields unless United States begins to win more decisively war of ideas. There is broad agreement among scholars and government officials that power, power to persuade, is essential as core element of America's response to al Qaeda and other Islamic extremist groups. International opprobrium regarding extraterritorial rendition of terrorist suspects and treatment of prisoners at Guantanamo and Abu Ghraib has greatly damaged America's reputation, although recent reorientation in US diplomatic positions and military techniques is beginning to restore that esteem. To offer world more than prevailing image of a heavy-handed hegemon, United States will have to shed sense of fear that has characterized so much of America's domestic and international rhetoric in new century. To renew values that make this nation strong will require a strong sense of American identity, as well as a willingness and readiness to face pressing national challenges. There is little in recent fabric of American political or cultural life to encourage such a sense of common resolve, but without a competing positive reality to offer world, countering lure of extremism's narrative may prove beyond reach. Americans today share little in way of a national story, especially one consisting of shared experiences and struggles. The populace is two generations beyond World War II, last war that demanded and received full measure of America's dedication and resolve. Wartime service of any kind has touched relatively few Americans, and other programs of service to nation have attracted limited participation. In years following 9/11, idea of civilian national service has received renewed consideration on part of thinkers and politicians. Without strong national leadership on issue, however, this debate has generated little action. Given promise concept of national service holds for strengthening foundations of America's national identity, moment is ripe for new voices to emerge on its behalf. This article argues that civilian national service can contribute to nation by forging a new sense of national community, rebuilding connection between rights and responsibilities of citizenship, and restoring sound civil-military relationships. In many ways, groundwork has already been laid, but existing spark of an idea needs to be fanned into reality. Challenges Protracted International Struggle With hindsight, Americans will understand struggle in which United States is currently engaged far better than is now possible. Terminology such as the Global War on Terrorism probably will not sufficiently define conflict in end, given that term's unsatisfying focus on a tactic of warfare and diffuse nature of adversary it implies. Whatever descriptor, it is a generational struggle that has high stakes for future of United States and world. With results obtained to date after seven years of conflict, it is now clear that a purely military solution is inadequate. The depths of anger and alienation that are wellspring of insurgent recruitment cannot be completely eradicated by means of bombs and bullets. Getting at roots of an insurgency has, throughout history, involved application of a combination of hard and soft power. This formula has never been more true than at present, when terrorism's proponents are able to draw from a seemingly worldwide supply of disaffected peoples. …