Politics & National Security
Why a Focus on Gender Increases National Security
If a society does not value half of its population, the chances are that society and its leaders will not value international agreements or the rule of law.
Latest in Gender and national security
If a society does not value half of its population, the chances are that society and its leaders will not value international agreements or the rule of law.
From “forever wars” to cyber operations, today’s national security challenges are proving vexingly complex for both Democrats and Republicans. Boosting budgets and restructuring security agencies has not helped surmount the challenges. But there’s one thing that could: improving gender diversity in leadership teams.
The next Administration faces a daunting list of challenges that combine military power and profound societal issues—from Mosul after ISIS, to another new strategy for Afghanistan, to preventing the further spread of violent extremism in North Africa, to limiting extremism’s appeal at home.
A growing body of academic literature and real-world experience suggests that an under-utilized tool to improve America’s disappointing performance in predicting, preventing, and ending conflict, extremism, and mass violence lies in plain sight.