Diversity in National Security Network

NatSec 2050 is a project that focuses on the present and future state of U.S. National Security.  The project presents credible trends and provides recommendations. 

Background

The 21st century international system is an increasingly complex environment.  The current state of the international system includes foreign threats that see no borders and increasingly shape us domestically.  The complexity of these dynamics requires a focus on building a better understanding and applying strategic predictability; an assessment on the evolution of these dynamics.   

Moreover, the United States is now engaged in the era of strategic competition. The international system will continue to experience symptoms of superpowers contesting each other in multiple domains ranging from hard to soft security issues. Superpowers will even work with middle and smaller states in competing for world dominance. Some of the symptoms will be disruptive and enduring, placing many lives at a disadvantage. 

Many Americans are unaware that these threats and trends have foreign ties. Some national security threats and trends disproportionately impact poor, black and brown communities. As national security practitioners, we foresee this norm as a significant challenge and urge for national awareness.   

NatSec 2050 will provide recommendations that will embrace critical principles including adaptability, resilience, competitiveness, and curtailing resource scarcity. 

Here are some of the issues that we project will be significant in the next five years and beyond.

Traditional/Conventional Security

• The Role of U.S. Military Operations 

• Counterterrorism 

• Weapons of of Mass Destruction

• Counter-Intelligence 

• Border Security 

Non-traditional Security

• Enduring political instability in Washington D.C. & Lack of Policy Continuity

• Economic Affordability Crisis 

• Education: Low Literacy Rate/Diminishing Critical Thinking- technology & National Isolationism; Impediment for the next generation to pursue degrees and careers in STEAM, global education & foreign language skills.

• Climate Change (heat waves, droughts, wildfires, coastal storms, and inland flooding, have the potential to disrupt regional economies)

• Cyberthreats targeting critical infrastructure

• Gun Violence & Mental Health in America 

• Human Rights Issues: Violent Clashes over religious differences and sexual orientation

Emerging Threats:

• Countering U.S. Dollar Dominance 

• Food insecurity in America

• Lack of access to quality water (i.e. flint, mississippi, Newark, etc.)

• The proliferation of accessible artificial intelligence (AI) tools

• Artificial Intelligence 

• Drone Operations, and Foreign Objects in U.S. AirSpace

• Future Pandemics 

• The Fentanyl Crisis 

• The Artics 

• Space Operations 

• Regional instability in the Middle East & North Africa, the Indo-Pacific, the Western Hemisphere (Growing presence of China & the spread of populism/non-democratic influences) and Europe  

Emerging Trends:

• Rising China as a growing formidable force in the global economy, technology, and infrastructure development 

• The growing role of cryptocurrency 

• Energy transition to renewable energy/decarbonization

• Demographic Changes & Migration 

• Ideological Warfare between democratic and non-democratic states

• Allocation of resources or resource stress (i.e. water insecurity)

• Low recruitment and retention for the U.S. Military 

Policy Recommendations

• Create a national system that measures our results; comparing to our near-peer competitors 

• Statecraft: diplomacy, sanctions, trade,  

• Access quality education which includes building global awareness and experiences

• Preserving and reforming the United Nations and Bretton Woods Institutions; building new modern alliances

• Building and expanding competitive small business in the global economy 

• Invest in Research and Development 

• Popularize pioneers with political support in critical areas including STEAM, foreign policy/national security practitioners, etc.)

• Localize a discourse on the state of our national security with political leadership, businesses owners, k-12 education leadership. 

• Invest in Renewable energy

Deliverables:

• A completed survey 

• Complete focus groups on each sub-domain

• A report discussing present and future threats/trends (next five years) 

• Create a tool-kit 

• Present results/findings to DC based entities, outside partners, domestic and international forums.

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