3D Security Initiative

Security requires efforts by both government and civil society. Development and diplomacy should be the first resort for preventing violent conflict, ensuring that human security-oriented defense strategies are truly a last resort.  A 3D approach to security offers both challenges and opportunities. On the one hand, development experts warn of a militarization of development and diplomacy. On the other hand, military experts note a move toward a broader human security paradigm. At its best, the 3D approach facilitates communication, collaboration, and coordination among those working toward human security. When different stakeholders are not working to accomplish the same mission, a 3D approach may best keep each D separate, but open up channels of communication to explore differences, tensions, and common ground. Read "Leveraging 3D Security" by Lisa Schirch and Aaron Kishbaugh, published in Foreign Policy in Focus

Conflict prevention and peacebuilding programs prevent, reduce, transform, and help people recover from violence. They address the root causes of economic, political, environmental, and social instability through a wide range of programs such as job creation, reconciliation between conflicting groups, democratization of decision-making, environmentally sustainable development, and training in conflict resolution skills. Conflict prevention efforts are a financial investment; avoiding expensive military operations through cost-effective local programs that achieve sustainable results. Conflict prevention can build bridges and help to stabilize communities, preventing the outbreak of disease, discontent, and violence.  Read "Coexistence and Security" published by Brandeis University and "Strategic Peacebuilding: State of the Field" published in the South Asian Journal of Peacebuilding

Civil society builds security from the ground up in partnership with government and the international community in a “whole-of-community” effort. Civil society organizations (CSOs) play important roles in conflict prevention, stabilization, reconstruction and peacebuilding. CSOs lay foundations for development, human rights, sustainable environments, and good governance. CSOs facilitate dialogue and promote tolerance between groups.  CSO networks provide early warning for impending violence and support transitional justice and security sector reform.  Read "Civil Society and Conflict Prevention" policy brief and "Stories of People Building Peace" compiled by the Global Partnership for the Prevention of Armed Conflict

Human Security places a focus on the safety and protection of individuals and communities, in addition to the traditional security concerns of the state. It asks a different set of questions: What do individuals and communities need in order to be safe and secure?  Human Security requires increasing our investments in development and diplomacy, as these approaches help to prevent conflict and build peace. The U.S. spends less than 5% of the discretionary federal budget on development and diplomacy while it spends over 60% of the discretionary federal budget on defense.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

How Can 3D Security Prevent Violent Conflict?

Development: Creates jobs, strengthens local democratic political institutions, addresses competition over natural resources and builds the capacity of communities and governments to address root causes of poverty and economic disparity by investing in education and healthcare and basic infrastructure and skills needed to meet basic needs.

Diplomacy: Builds relationships, creates forums and procedures for constructive political engagement between conflicting groups through dialogue, negotiation, mediation, and other strategies to engage diverse stakeholders, identify shared goals, manage conflicting interests, and build working relationships to reduce stereotyping and discrimination between groups to build support for the rule of law, and a culture of peace, coexistence, and democratic values.

Defense: Ideally aims to protect civilians, separate armed groups to help defuse tensions, stabilize communities, allow time for diplomacy, disarm aggressors, and suppress violence, allowing space for other conflict prevention programs.

 Development as a Security Strategy
How development projects like building schools and starting small businesses contribute to U.S. and global security.

Diplomacy as a Security Strategy
How Track I and II diplomacy efforts contribute to U.S. and global security.

Defense as a Security Strategy
What political and military leaders are saying about the use of the U.S. military.

Download all sections of "A New Vision for US and Global Security."