Development is a strategic and moral imperative… our intention is to elevate development so that it stands alongside defense and diplomacy and an equal. Defense, development and diplomacy need to reinforce each other, but each also brings a unique perspective and set of capabilities to the table. Together, they make us stronger, smarter and more effective.
President Barack Obama, describing the new US national security strategy.
In earlier posts and elsewhere I have made the case that in the age of globalization, development has in large part become the new security. That is why I advocate the substitution of diplomacy – and especially an extreme form of public diplomacy, with the emphasis on cross-cultural dialogue and meaningful exchange – for defence at the centre of international policy.