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EMU Prof Launches 3D Security Initiative
Lisa Schirch
The 3D Security Initiative based at EMU is attracting wide interest among national leaders who often don’t talk with each other – experts in military science and strategy, in peace, in development, in relief of suffering, and in diplomacy.
"The 3D Security Initiative promotes balanced investment and spending in what President Bush has called the three pillars of security – defense, development, and diplomacy," says Lisa Schirch, professor at EMU’s Center for Justice and Peacebuilding.
Heading a team drawn from EMU and other institutions, Schirch argues that two of the "Ds" – development and diplomacy – have been under-emphasized by a succession of U.S. administrations, resulting in less stability and more conflict around the world.
With the launching of an interactive web site at www.3dsecurity.org, Schirch and her team are hoping to spark public discussion about this topic.
Schirch, who has a PhD in conflict analysis and resolution from George Mason University, co-facilitated a May 16-17 retreat on "a 3D world" at the prestigious Aspen Institute’s Wye River Estate.
The retreat attracted 39 influential policy thinkers: five top officers with the U.S. military; eight officials from Congress and federal agencies, including one U.S. ambassador; several professors from Washington D.C.-area universities; and the heads of relief organizations, including Refugees International and Oxfam. Officials who head several major funding agencies also attended.
Pursuing 'Global Prosperity'
In a document of "consensus principles" issued at the end of the retreat, most of the participants agreed that "global prosperity, peacebuilding, and poverty reduction" are in America’s national interest and will serve to reinforce national security.
The participants also advocated consolidating U.S. foreign aid, now scattered among 20 federal government units, into more cohesive, more effective assistance aimed at economic growth and poverty reduction around the world.
In a follow-up to the Aspen retreat, a second set of national leaders met in July in Washington, D.C. to form the Balanced Security Outreach task force. One of the first goals of the task force is to conduct a poll on Americans’ attitudes on security policies and budgeting. The poll will also solicit Americans’ views on investing in diplomacy and development.
Continuing the effort to dialogue with military leaders, Schirch was joined by an EMU colleague, Jayne Docherty (who earned the same PhD as Schirch from George Mason) to attend the First Annual Security Strategy Seminar at the Army War College at Carlisle Barracks in Pennsylvania in late July. The War College is attended by senior military officers and representatives from various federal agencies.
"We found that many of the War College students and faculty had already drawn the same conclusion that security cannot be achieved by force alone based on their experiences in the past four years," said Docherty. "They were interested in our work and our ideas for a more balanced security program, and we learned about their challenges in Iraq and Afghanistan."
'What We Value as Americans'
With the web site, "we expect to host lively online dialogue, complete with the sharing of photos, on what we value as Americans and what we want to be secure," said Aaron Kishbaugh, a graduate student at EMU who devoted his 2006 summer to working on the 3D Security Initiative.
As a Mennonite, Schirch realizes she is venturing into territory typically avoided by her faith tradition.
"Traditionally, Mennonites have said 'no' to war and but have had few specifics about what it means to say 'yes' to peace," said Schirch. Working with other development and peacebuilding organizations as well as military actors, Schirch said she hopes to build consensus among different groups to pave the way for big changes in US foreign policy.
"Especially since 9/11, diplomacy and development have been under-valued and under-used tools in the U.S. foreign policy toolbox," said J. Daryl Byler, director of the Mennonite Central Committee's Washington, D.C, office. "The 3D Security Initiative offers Mennonites the opportunity to highlight human security-building approaches that are more consistent with our faith tradition."
