Research Paper
“Good Enough” Governance
Humility and the Limits of Foreign Intervention in Response to Civil Wars and Intrastate Violence
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“The question shouldn’t be what we ought to do, but what we can do.”
—Rory Stewart, Member of Parliament of the United Kingdom
American Academy of Arts & Sciences
Table of Contents
Civil Wars and Threats
Trends in and the Nature of Civil Wars and Intrastate Violence
Assessing the Threats to International Security and to U.S. National Security
Additional Considerations
Possible Policy Responses
Factors Impacting Policy Options and Responses
Policy Options
Standard Treatment
Occupation (Iraq)
Limited Security and Development Assistance (post-surge Afghanistan)
Proxy Wars
Ignore
Prevention (Most Cost-Effective on Paper, Most Difficult in Practice)
U.S. Policy Precedents
Conclusion: Policy and Academic Research Recommendations—What Can Realistically Be Done?
Main Policy Implications
Key Policy Recommendation: Aim for “Good Enough” Governance
Confronting Painful Trade-Offs