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Personal Preparedness in America: The Needle is Broken
From the thesis abstract: "For decades emergency managers have strived to educate the American public on how to prepare for disasters. Yet many Americans are still not prepared, at least as preparedness is defined by our nation's emergency management community. If the standard approach that the emergency management community has used for the last several decades is flawed, then the needle might not simply be stuck. It may, along with the entire system, be broken. Perhaps the problem is not just with the needle, which is simply measuring action or inaction, but with the actions themselves and the messages used to promote them. This thesis explores whether the actions individuals are asked to take are reasonable based on identified risk, and practical and sustainable based on barriers such as income and life-style. In addition, are the crafters of the message cognizant of the importance of sense-making on how an individual may choose to act based on the way he or she senses and responds to an incident, as well as the personal perception of self? Recent Federal Emergency Management Agency preparedness surveys and public education campaigns ad-dress the need for long-term resiliency over simple actions but may not go far enough to affect lasting change in behavior."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.); Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security
Dragani, Nancy J.
2015-06
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DHS Skunkworks Project: Defining and Addressing Homeland Security Grand Challenges
From the thesis abstract: "What global grand challenges do we face today that will have an impact on the homeland security landscape twenty-five years from now? Today, a grand challenge is intended as a call-to-action for a given field, to find the potential solution for a moonshot problem. This thesis recommends potential methods and organizational capacity requirements for Department of Homeland Security (DHS) science and technology (S&T) based on a focused comparison of three cases: XPRIZE [XPRIZE Foundation], Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), and DHS S&T [Science and Technology]. This research shows that both XPRIZE and DARPA have a consistent record of innovation and disruption that have transformed contemporary life through, for example, the internet, space travel, cloud computing, GPS, artificial intelligence, virtual reality, and satellite imagery. However, DHS S&T has an uneven history and uninspiring track record of using research and development to deliver results. Through a contemporary application of smart practices used by XPRIZE and DARPA, DHS can better prepare for today's shifting technological threat environment. DHS' current approach to grand challenges is local and linear when it should be global and innovative. Better defining moonshot problems will lay the foundation for S&T to adopt pioneering strategies and to harness the massive potential of the crowd. These strategies will further drive innovation, the cornerstone to solving tomorrow's grand challenges."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.); Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security
Bowman, Calvin J.
2016-12
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Community Preparedness: Alternative Approaches to Citizen Engagement in Homeland Security
From the thesis abstract: "Since the events of September 11, 2001, there has been an increased emphasis on citizen preparedness in the United States. But over 12 years later, the overall level of preparedness for individuals remains basically unchanged. Americans remain largely unprepared to take care of themselves and their families following a disaster or a terrorist event. There is evidence of success in citizen engagement and community outreach in other safety campaigns, such as fire prevention and safety, as well as seat belt safety. This thesis asks what strategies, methods and practices are used in these successful models to effectively change individual behavior and prompt citizens to take action, and how can these models be applied successfully in the homeland security mission space in the area of community preparedness. In addition, this thesis examines a small set of best practices (fire prevention and safety and seat belt safety) and a comparative case study of community preparedness in the United Kingdom. These best practices are then applied to the United States homeland security discipline, specifically in the area of individual, family and community preparedness. Finally, this thesis provides recommendations for practical applications to increase citizen engagement in preparedness in the United States."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.); Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security
Kirk, Philip M.
2014-06
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Wicked Problem of Information Sharing in Homeland Security-A Leadership Perspective
From the thesis abstract: "This thesis is an autoenthnographic study exploring ineffective practices of American information sharing and intelligence in a post-9/11 world. It answers the questions: 1) What is there to learn about the relationship between homeland security information sharing, leadership doctrine, and personal experience?, and 2) How does complexity science influence this relationship? The study combined personal experience with a methodological framework that leverages complexity science, social planning (wicked problems), and leadership doctrine to discover improved coordination between the federal intelligence community (IC) and state, local, tribal, territorial, and private (SLTTP) first responder levels. The analysis reveals virtually no interaction or understanding of the available resources occurred on either level before the 9/11 attacks. Pre-9/11, both entities were focused on their respective missions, the IC on post-Cold War Soviet issues, and state and local first responders on local criminal issues. After 9/11, both were forced to somehow coalesce, to mitigate gaps identified by the 9/11 Commission, which created a paradox of conflict and resistance within reform systems that would not have existed but for the efforts to coalesce them, within which this nation continues to flounder. The conclusion provides recommendations and potential solutions to remaining information gaps, as well as leadership doctrine that can provide a foundation for operating within the complex domain."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security; Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)
McGhee, G.C. Sam
2014-06
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Navigating Troubled Waters: How Leaders Can More Effectively Prepare Intelligence Enterprises for the Risks of Intelligence Efforts in Transparent Societies
From the thesis abstract: "For intelligence officials today, understanding the appropriate bounds of balancing security and liberty interests is more imperative than ever. Intelligence enterprises require the consent of their public stakeholders to be effective; running aground of public support threatens significant institutional harms. Leaders can avoid many of these harms if they develop a culture within their organizations that better balances security and liberty interests. This effort can ward off the dangers of a narrative discourse that advocates for 'prevention at all costs,' which leads to harmful extremes of disregarding public concerns over privacy, civil liberties, and the rule of law. This thesis uses a case study to review the social dynamics in the Bush Administration following 9/11, as a handful of policymakers secretly and unilaterally created and implemented aggressive surveillance programs. Using the social identity perspective, this thesis demonstrates the harms that may befall an organization intent on thwarting all other considerations to prevent a terrorist attack. Ultimately, this thesis provides a model for creating a culture that better balances security and liberty interests, and that ensures a better understanding of how stakeholders view an intelligence enterprise's authorities."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.); Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security
Dambly, Jeffrey
2018-09
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Systems Fragility: The Sociology of Chaos
From the thesis abstract: "This thesis seeks to examine the concept of community fragility in emergency management from a systems perspective. Two questions are studied. First, can community fragility be qualitatively measured? Second, does this concept hold value for the emergency management field? Using literature that addresses fragility in four areas of complex systems--ecosystems, social systems, socio-technical systems, and complex adaptive systems--we create a theoretical framework focused on the emergency management field. This theoretical framework is then assessed through a multi-case analysis, examining three diverse large-scale events that have occurred in the United States in the past decade. Assessing each fragility factor from the theoretical framework for each case study reveals that the framework is sound. These findings allow for the development of a causal prediction model illustrating how community fragility factors can be used in the emergency management field to not only improve overall outcomes after disaster, but to also build less fragile systems and communities in preparation for future disasters."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.); Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security
Hodges, Lori R.
2015-03
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Fake News, Conspiracy Theories, and Lies: An Information Laundering Model for Homeland Security
From the thesis abstract: "The purpose of this research, broadly speaking, is to expose the threat that 'fake news' poses to our national security. This thesis answers the question: Can the information laundering model, or a modified version of it, be used to explain how the internet is exploited to spread fake news, and the resulting threat to the United States? I assert that a well-crafted narrative, whether true or false, can be spread rapidly online due to the accessibility and interconnectedness of the internet ecosystem. I then articulate how these narratives can be further accelerated and disseminated when propagandists take advantage of existing processes that improve the customization, ease of access, and availability of information online. I do this by modifying the information laundering model, and then using the new model to examine the interconnectedness of search engines, blogs, social networking platforms, and media/academic outlets, and how these connections can be exploited to launder false or purposefully misleading information into public discourse. Finally, I demonstrate how this process allows adversarial nations, criminals, and malicious actors to increase public discord, undermine democracy, and threaten Americans' physical and cognitive security."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.); Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security
Korta, Samantha M.
2018-03
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Trusted Insiders are Committing Fraud and Embezzlement Within Organizations: Is There a Connection to Addiction, as the Motivating Factor for Their Illegal Activities?
From the thesis abstract: "Extensive studies and research have been conducted on insider threats, the possible causes, predictive models and best practices for prevention, early detection, and mitigation of the threats of insider attacks to a wide range of critical infrastructure, government agencies, and the private sector. Current research shows a great deal of attention directed at the cyber threats toward organizations. In contrast, relatively little research has been conducted on the insider threat with regard to financial fraud and embezzlement to organizations. Left undetected, insiders can cause irreparable and devastating consequences to private and public sector organizations, which compromise the integrity of the overall financial system. Recent criminal cases have revealed a disturbing trend linking many of the trusted insiders convicted of conducting fraud or embezzlement within the victim organizations to an addiction to gambling or prescription drugs. Also alarming is the frequency of trusted insiders conducting fraud within government agencies to support their addiction. This paper studies research on insider threats, and suggests that addiction is a contributing factor to the motives of the insiders' criminal behaviors. Research also suggests that accurate reporting by law enforcement agencies is not occurring in police reports on motives or causes of the reasons insiders are committing their crimes."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.); Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security
Johnson, Paul R.
2014-06
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Improving Access to Military Aircraft During Civilian Wildfires
From the thesis abstract: "Wildfires are a growing problem in the United States, and military aircraft are increasingly mobilized in support of civilian wildfire suppression efforts. The photogenic qualities of aircraft distributing a trail of red slurry over a wildfire increase the public's expectation of fire suppression from the air. The problem is that Department of Defense (DOD) aircraft are not dispatched to civilian wildfires in a timely manner, resulting in lives lost, property destroyed, and critical infrastructure damaged. The research question considered by this thesis is, 'What improvements can be implemented to existing local, state, and federal protocols to provide a more timely response to civilian wildfires by DOD aircraft?' The current system is complicated and confusing, involving federal laws, such as the Economy and Stafford acts; DOD doctrine and instruction, such as Defense Support to (of) Civil Authorities and Immediate Response Authority; and civilian agencies, such as the National Interagency Fire Center with its 'Military Use Handbook' in the existing process to dispatch military aircraft to civilian wildfires. The results of the study recommend that (1) DOD aircraft be more closely coordinated with civilian aircraft via the IRA [Immediate Response Authority] for responding to civilian wildfires, and that (2) the Economy and Stafford acts be modified to improve the efficiency with which military aircraft respond to civilian wildfires."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.); Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security
Dubay, Steve E.
2015-12
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Nevada Family: Political Crisis Leadership and Resilience Narratives in the Silver State
From the thesis abstract: "Emergencies and disasters are political events, and can often become political crises for elected and appointed officials. Current scholarship suggests that five key tasks for political officials allow them to manage these crises: sensemaking, decision making, meaning making, terminating, and learning. These practices provide a solid foundation for political leaders during crises, but it is argued in this thesis that this approach is limited wholly to prescriptive recommendations, and that it does not include a realistic and descriptive understanding of how political leaders actually respond to crises. The key distinction is that political leaders must balance the perception of their effective governing during the crisis with the perception that they should not be blamed for causing or allowing the crisis to occur or be held responsible for any of the deficiencies in how the crisis was handled. Furthermore, in addition to including addressing blame risk, these five key tasks must also happen before, during, and after the crisis, which amounts to political crisis leadership, whereas applying the five tasks during the crisis amounts to political crisis management. Since the most important of these tasks for a political official is meaning making, political officials can best lead crises before they happen by establishing resilience narratives."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.); Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security
Cage, Caleb S., 1979-
2017-12
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Ethical Decision-Making for Homeland Security
From the thesis abstract: "The thesis suggests that homeland security personnel lack a uniform method to make sound and defensible ethical decisions. Building on a foundation of classical ethical thought, it is established that ethics are essential to the work of homeland security. Philosophical underpinnings include virtue ethics, deontology, utilitarianism, decision-making practices, and values common to the homeland security enterprise. Real-world case studies were examined in an attempt to understand and demonstrate what can happen if ethics are neglected, considered incompletely or incorrectly, or thoughtfully applied. Case studies include the response to Hurricane Katrina, motivation and thought behind terrorism, and the discussion on torture. Examples of good ethics programs were analyzed, including the Canadian Defense Ethics Program and the Wildfire Fire Leadership Development Program. From this research, a conceptual framework for understanding was developed. The DRIVE framework (Duty, Respect, Integrity, Vision, Ends/Expected outcomes) is proposed to give homeland security personnel the tools necessary to evaluate a situation, make a decision, and review it retrospectively. The framework is easy to remember, flexible to allow for individual differences, yet comprehensive enough to encompass classical ethical thought, common values, and decision-making. The thesis recommends developing an ethics-training program for homeland security, using DRIVE as a foundation."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security; Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)
Nelson, Aaron G.
2013-09
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Developing a Model Fusion Center to Enhance Information Sharing
From the thesis abstract: "Fusion Centers are in a unique position to provide the necessary collaborative space to bring the federal intelligence community together with state, local and tribal initiatives to support homeland security efforts at the grass roots level. Fusion Centers are described as a collaborative effort of two or more agencies to share, or more importantly, fuse information or data from multiple sources. Although, fusion centers have developed at different intervals, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security has provided guiding documents to support fusion center maturation. This research examines these documents and proposed strategies incorporated into four proficient fusion centers in the Northeast Region of the United States to identify best or smart practices, success stories and areas for improvement. There has been a plethora of literature written concerning fusion centers since the tragedies of September 11, 2001. These categories of the literature include: official documents, guidelines and lessons learned for intelligence input, civil liberties safeguards and protections and literature dealing with the intelligence cycle and information sharing. The focus of this thesis is to examine correlation between the implementation of the current United States Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Department of Justice suggested Fusion Center Guidelines, and the employment of these guidelines in the successful development of a model fusion center."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security; Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)
Smith, Walter E.
2011-12
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Suicide in Law Enforcement: Protecting Those Who Serve
From the thesis abstract: "The goal of this thesis was to identify effective suicide prevention protocols currently being used by law enforcement that can help leadership meet their organizations' needs. The research also reviewed suicide prevention protocols used by the military since both occupations are intrinsically connected by the psychological maladies they endure. Specifically, the thesis examined the Air Force Suicide Prevention Program and the Montreal police department's Together for Life suicide prevention program. Both programs used longitudinal studies that combined several suicide prevention protocols into their overall strategies. Metadata from each case study show that combining suicide prevention protocols creates a synergistic effect that results in fewer suicides over a measured period. Although the thesis also examined the effectiveness of individual protocols employed independently--including pre-employment psychological screenings, gatekeeper training, peer support programs, and employee assistance programs--this research was limited by insufficient metadata. Through a critical review of suicide prevention case studies and initiatives, this thesis identified best practices that may be tailored to the needs of law enforcement and the military."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.); Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security
Bernier, Raymond J.
2018-09
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MOVES Institute [website]
"The Modeling, Virtual Environments and Simulation Institute was founded in 2000, but MOVES as an academic program was founded in 1996 with the launch of the Master of Science program, followed by the Doctoral program in 1999. The Institute is intended to be a mix of the strong analysis tradition of the Operations Research Department and the simulation, training, and software development expertise of the Computer Science Department. The Institute has its roots in the NPSNET Research Group founded in 1986. NPSNET was the original low-cost, government owned, SIMNET and DIS compatible visual simulator. It was widely used around the world and was integrated into many government programs over its lifetime. The Institute was also the birthplace of America's Army. Sponsored by the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army: Manpower and Reserve Affairs, America's Army was our first venture into the use of video game technology for defense applications. Development has since left the Institute, but many millions of players have downloaded and played America's Army since 2000. Recent initiatives include the Extensible Modeling and Simulation Framework (XMSF) that uses web services for interoperability of M&S systems, and also the Delta3D Open Source Game-Based Simulation Engine."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)
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Examination of Academic Education for Homeland Security
From the Thesis Abstract: "Over the last 19 years, there has been a concerted, multifaceted effort to develop an academic field of Homeland Security. This thesis examined the state of homeland security education to understand the size and characteristics of the field, important to shape future development. Current estimates have significant methodological limitations. There were two questions. First, what are the characteristics and foci of the literature on homeland security education? Second, what are the characteristics of homeland security graduate-degree programs? The first question was answered with a systematic review of 71 articles. The articles were published in homeland security journals, were largely narrative pieces rather than empirical, and mostly focused on homeland security discipline, curriculum or programs. The second question was answered with a review of 110 graduate-level academic programs. There are 58 full degree programs in homeland security-related fields, but only 18 that are exclusively homeland security. Most programs are delivered fully online and require a capstone rather than a thesis. From these analyses are three recommendations. First, the field needs to use stronger empirical research methods. Second, since most programs are delivered online, the field should emphasize educational techniques and outcomes effective in this format. Finally, there needs to be some discussion to clarify the relationship between homeland security and emergency management."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.); Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security
Simons-Rudolph, Joseph M.
2020-06
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Analysis of a Multi-disciplinary Approach to Gun Misuse and the Need for a Paradigm Shift in Terminology
From the thesis abstract: "The threat of gun misuse occurs against the backdrop of historical, cultural, and legal perspectives within which guns are immersed. This thesis explores the potential for collaboration among the medical, legal, and homeland security disciplines when confronting a commonly held threat, such as gun misuse. Currently, each discipline has a unique and sometimes conflicting definitional view of what the term 'gun control' actually means, as well as how it is to be operationally approached. What emerges within this thesis is the position that 'gun control' is not even the correct term to use and should be avoided when addressing issues involving gun misuse. Rather, the use of the term 'gun misuse prevention' appears to be more appropriate. Such a shift in perspective is not only more consistent with the gun misuse data presented, but also serves to dampen the polarization imposed by the use of the term 'control.' Further, it provides a clearer path for stakeholders from both the public and private sectors to approach and make recommendations when confronting the issue of gun misuse that includes legislative, policy, and technological approaches. This type of approach may pave the way for addressing other issues of common interdisciplinary concern."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.); Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security
Arnold, Damon T.
2016-12
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When the Shooting Stops: Recovery from Active-Shooter Events for K-12 Schools
From the thesis abstract: "Since Columbine, untold resources and planning efforts have been dedicated to active-shooter response by schools and public safety officials. Perhaps this is as it should be, but the almost exclusive focus on response has come at the expense of recovery. Active-shooter events were studied to identify and analyze gaps in recovery planning and operations. Research suggests that a comprehensive K-12 recovery plan with a phased approach would have enabled a faster and smoother recovery. There are no federal requirements for such a plan, and fewer than two-thirds of the states require a crisis plan for schools. The most important elements of active-shooter recovery for K-12 schools were determined: evacuation, relocation, and parent/student reunification; counseling and mental health therapy; funerals and memorials; post-incident staff reduction, suicide awareness, communication with non-English-speaking students and families, and donation management. Based on the lessons learned from six active-shooter incidents, steps are recommended for the successful"
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.); Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security
Berglund, Douglas A.
2017-12
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United States Earthquake Early Warning System: How Theory and Analysis Can Save America Before the Big One Happens
From the thesis abstract: "The United States is extremely vulnerable to catastrophic earthquakes. More than 143 million Americans may be threatened by damaging earthquakes in the next 50 years. This thesis argues that the United States is unprepared for the most catastrophic earthquakes the country faces today. Earthquake early warning systems are a major solution in practice to reduce economic risk, to protect property and the environment, and to save lives. Other countries have already built earthquake early warning systems, but only after they suffered devastating earthquakes. In the United States, ShakeAlert is the available solution, but it only operates on a test basis in California and still lacks sufficient capability and sustained funding to become operational. This thesis applies an input-output model of political systems theory to analyze how the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program, which controls the development of ShakeAlert, functions in the United States. Using this model provides a framework for a discourse of the analysis to determine how the consequences of catastrophic earthquakes shape our decisions and policies for ShakeAlert. This thesis also examines what changes are required within our political system for ShakeAlert to launch as quickly as possible on a national scale and to allow for its sustained integration within the American preparedness culture. Perhaps most importantly, the implementation of ShakeAlert will help prepare the people, businesses, infrastructure, economies, and communities, hopefully before the next significant earthquake impacts the United States. Will the United States have to experience a devastating earthquake before implementing a solution that is recognized to save lives?"
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.); Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security
Rockabrand, Ryan
2017-12
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America Wildland-Urban Interface Burning: A Modern Application of a Historic Success
"In 2018, the Camp fire, a conflagration in the wildland-urban interface (WUI), destroyed Paradise, California, killing nearly 90 residents. Reports of the disaster focused on risk reduction in the structural or wildland environments; a comprehensive, collaborative look at the WUI, where the built environment and wildland or 'outdoors' meet, has yet to be produced. In the 1970s, statistics on the number of fires and on persons killed or injured in fires, showed alarming growth, and in 1973 a report (America Burning) was ordered by Congress to present ways of reversing these trends. Subsequent core documents guided federal response and preparedness in general, but fires in the WUI zone were little discussed. This research makes policy recommendations for the WUI as a domain characterized by unique circumstances that require tailored plans. Data is analyzed through a strategic framework developed by the military to assess operational environments. The commissioning of an updated national report that reflects contemporary developments in firefighting, community awareness, and technologies is urged, and specific policies are recommended for implementation."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.); Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security
Litzenberg, Erik J.
2020-03
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Punching Above Their Weight: The Homeland Security Contributions of the U.S. Pacific Territories
From the Thesis Abstract: "While the United States' Pacific territories were brought into the U.S. fold in recognition of their importance to national security, today many Americans--including many policy makers--seem to be unfamiliar with the U.S. Pacific territories and their strategic value. This thesis addresses the question, 'What is the value of the United States' Pacific territories--Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI), and American Samoa--to the nation's homeland security, and what are the strategic implications of that value?' Secondary sources such as congressional testimony, military doctrine and unclassified plans, and governmental reports were analyzed to answer that question, using the framework of the DIME (diplomatic, informational, military, and economic) instruments of national power to assess the overlap of homeland security missions with national security interests. While the territories contribute to the nation's security, the lack of coordinated and informed management by the federal government to these territories, including homeland security missions that have at times been at odds with U.S. military interests, prevents a full realization of their potential. Recommendations are made for reexamination of legal, process, and funding approaches to the U.S. Pacific territories by the federal government, including homeland security agencies."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.); Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security
Stanton, Colby E.
2019-03
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Role of Schools and Their Capabilities to Ensure Safe Sheltering During a Storm
From the thesis abstract: "Across the country, public schools are more than just learning environments for students; they are designated emergency shelters in times of natural disasters, such as hurricanes, tsunamis, and tornadoes. This thesis examines the use of public schools as emergency shelters as an integral part of homeland security. It specifically addresses the experiences in the State of Hawaii and examines the practices and policies of Florida, Texas, and Japan. Through a case study of these locations, recommendations are made for the State of Hawaii regarding the practice of maintaining schools as shelters, strengthening security and safety, and clarifying its role."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.); Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security
Dela Cruz, Donalyn A.
2017-03
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Russian Relationships With the West: The Implications for Military Reform
"This thesis examines the impact of NATO-Russia relations on the process of military reform in the Russian Federation. The military reform process within Russia that aims to create a lean, professional military that Russia can afford and that will better serve Moscow's defense needs is hampered by a lingering perception of a threat from the United States and NATO, despite significant evidence to the contrary. A reformed military would reduce the burden on Russia's economy and would be better matched to the immediate and future security needs of the Russian state. A cooperative relationship between Moscow and the West could help to ease the perception of a threat posed by NATO. This could encourage the creation of a Russian military capable of joint operations with Western militaries, especially in the realm of counter-terrorism and peacekeeping operations. A military reformed along these lines could serve as a cornerstone for a strengthened Russian democracy that would allow Russia to become, once again, a player on the world stage. A willingness by NATO and the United States to pursue increased military and political cooperation with Moscow offers an opportunity to influence positively the military reform process within Russia."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)
Gray, Jeremy
2002-12
