The Next U.S. National Security Strategy: A Normative and Public Management Approach

Abstract

This paper examines the U.S. National Security Strategy (NSS) documents produced in 2002 and 2006 and provides recommendations for the incoming administration in producing the next NSS. The 2006 NSS outlines nine broad foreign policy goals united by a common theme of democracy promotion. However, under the lens of strategic management, it fails to integrate these goals into an effective strategy, fully consider all aspects of present security environment, or enable a unity of effort across the U.S. government through prioritized objectives. By adopting a strategic management approach and moving away from democracy promotion as the focal point of U.S. strategy, the next administration will be able to instill an effective strategic policy-making process and produce an annual NSS that fully addresses today's increasingly complex security challenges.