“Our foreign affairs capacity is hobbled by a human capital crisis,” says a report on the US diplomatic programs released this month, “We do not have enough people to meet our current responsibilities… The status quo cannot continue without serious damage to our vital interests.”
The American Academy of Diplomacy in conjunction with the Stimson Center launched its study in 2007 to provide solutions for and stimulate a conversation about the need to provide the necessary funding for the country’s foreign policies. The result is a report entitled “A Foreign Affairs Budget for the Future: Fixing the Crisis in Diplomatic Readiness.”
According to the report, significant portions of the nation’s foreign affairs business simply are not being accomplished. Increased diplomatic needs in Iraq, Afghanistan, and elsewhere have not been supported by increased staffing and the positions that do exist have vacancy rates near 15 percent. The work has been migrated by default to the military that does have the necessary people and funding but not the appropriate experience nor knowledge.
The study found critical personnel shortages in all four major categories of foreign affairs activity – core diplomacy, public diplomacy, economic assistance, and reconstruction/stabilization – and State Department training.
The report proposes a strategic and targeted set of staffing and related funding increases in the International Affairs portion of the federal budget. First, the committee proposes that the US direct-hire staffing in the four major categories be increased over FY 2008 levels by 4,735 over the timeframe of 2010-2014, a growth of 46%. This does not come cheaply; the additional staff and related costs, including training, are estimated at $2 billion annually. Increased funding that would permit ambassadors to respond effectively to humanitarian and political emergencies is also proposed.
“Authority shortfalls” are also cited as a problem in the current “militarized” diplomacy era. They are argue that authority over selected Security Assistance programs should be moved from the Department of Defense to the Department of State, except in areas where combat operations continue.
The study concludes that increased staffing capacity alone will not be sufficient to meet US diplomacy goals and suggests that a number of international exchange and other programs should be significantly expanded.
Related Stories: