The United States National Strategy Formulation Process

Abstract

The United States national strategy formulation is a deliberate and thoughtful process, which has some challenges. It is very important to examine thefoundation and nature of the United States policy and strategy processes. The strategic policymakers must evaluate the concept of national securityin the context of modern international relations. This study brings some examples from the beginning of the Cold War to the present, and examinesthe U.S. policymakers’ decisions to use hard power – as an instrument of national power, which is the last option in the foreign policy. Whole-ofgovernmentis a concept related to grand strategy, which includes all instruments of national power. This study introduces the concept and potentialopportunities of whole-of-government collaboration. Finally, it introduces my recommendations for key decision makers and strategists at the nationallevel, and guidelines of strategy formulation for policymakers, who are involved in designing, developing, and executing national security policy andstrategy.Keywords: Grand strategy, hard power, national security policy, national security strategy, smart power, whole-of-government