After global battle II, George Kennan grew to become the nation Department's first director of coverage making plans. Secretary of kingdom George Marshall's preliminary suggestion to Kennan: peculiarly, "avoid trivia." be aware of the wooded area, no longer the bushes, and do not overpassed the large photograph. more uncomplicated stated than performed. Avoiding Trivia severely assesses the prior, destiny, and destiny function and effect of long term strategic making plans in overseas policy.

Strategic making plans should be a extra necessary a part of America's overseas policymaking. hundreds of thousands of troops are engaged in wrestle whereas fatherland safety issues stay. In such an atmosphere, long term coordination of ambitions and assets would appear to be of paramount value. yet background tells us that such cohesiveness and coherence are vastly tricky to set up, less hold. Can coverage planners—in the Pentagon, the country division, Treasury, NSC, and nationwide Intelligence Council—rise to the problem? certainly, is strategic making plans a attainable thought in twenty first century overseas coverage? those the most important questions advisor this eye-opening book.

The participants comprise key figures from the previous few many years of overseas coverage and planning—individuals chargeable for implementing a few type of order and strategic precedence on international coverage in a global that alterations by means of the minute. they supply authoritative perception at the problems and value of considering and appearing in a coherent approach, for the lengthy term.

Contributors: Andrew P. N. Erdmann, Peter Feaver, Aaron L. Friedberg, David F. Gordon, Richard N. Haass, William Inboden, Bruce W. Jentleson, Steven D. Krasner, Jeffrey W. Legro, Daniel Twining, Thomas Wright, Amy B. Zegart.