Two experts discuss how traditional views of geography can limit our understanding of national security. They advocate for a trans-oceanic perspective, emphasizing maritime connections over land borders. The conversation touches on the complexities of bureaucracy within the Department of Defense and the need for collaborative strategies to address global threats like drug trafficking. The interplay between domestic politics and foreign policy is also explored, highlighting its vital role in shaping a cohesive security strategy.
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volunteer_activism ADVICE
Think Globally, Act Locally
Think globally, but act locally when considering national security.
Current Department of Defense boundaries are very limited, so strategists must think transnationally.
insights INSIGHT
Trans-Oceanic Connections
Most global interconnections occur over maritime domains, not land.
Strategists should consider trans-oceanic regions, reflecting how people connect across borders.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Cross-Boundary Challenges
Drug trafficking from Latin America to Europe crosses multiple DoD boundaries (SOUTHCOM, AFRICOM, EUCOM).
Russia's activities span EUCOM, CENTCOM, and AFRICOM, highlighting the need for global integration.
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In a series of essays for the Foreign Policy Research Institute, two scholars at the National Security Affairs Department at the U.S. Naval War College call for a reconceptualization of the global map in the way strategists think about geography, bureaucracy, and national security. The Debrief sits down with Dr. Derek Reveron, chair of the National Security Affairs Department, and Dr. Nikolas Gvosdev, professor of national security affairs and editor of the journal Orbis, to help us redraw the boundaries that guide our thinking in contemporary strategy.
About the Speakers:
Derek S. Reveron is professor and Chair of the National Security Affairs Department and brings decades of experience in strategy development with work in dozens of countries. He served on the Rhode Island Cybersecurity Commission and has published widely on national security, defense policy, and foreign policy. He is a faculty affiliate at the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs at Harvard Kennedy School where he teaches strategic problem-solving. He served 33 years in the Navy Reserves leading units in support of operations in the Middle East, Europe, Asia, and Latin America and was a special advisor in Afghanistan.
Nikolas K. Gvosdev is a professor of national security affairs at the U.S. Naval War College. He holds non-residential fellowships with Foreign Policy Research Institute (editor of “Orbis”) and Carnegie Council for Ethics in International Affairs (co-host of the “Doorstep” podcast). He is a member of Loisach Group, a collaboration between the Munich Security Conference and the Marshall Center to enhance U.S. and Germany’s security partnership. He is a contributing editor for The National Interest. He has taught at Baylor, Georgetown, George Washington, Harvard Extension and Brown universities. From 2016-20, he held the Captain Jerome E. Levy Chair in economic geography and national security.
The views presented by the faculty or other guest speakers do not reflect official positions of the Naval War College, DON or DOD.
The Debrief