Advice for Foreign Policy Pioneers

Ask yourself, what is the most important characteristic of a successful leader? Is it the ability to command a crowd, the faculty to craft language, or the passion to inspire others? While all of these traits are significant, a strong leader must above all exhibit trust. According to Dr. Anthony Cordesman, the Arleigh A. Burke Chair in Strategy at CSIS, trust remains the basis of sound foreign policy and the cornerstone of responsible governance. Speaking to a group of young professionals this afternoon here at CSIS, Cordesman argued that laying a foundation of transparency between a government and its citizens is paramount to any successful foreign policy framework. Cordesman provided the example of the US during the Vietnam War. Fueled by the popular news media, public opinion turned against government leaders when reports of lies, blackmail, and corruption overwhelmed the American people. The government lost the trust of its constituents, and therefore, was unable to promote positive foreign policy.

Both the Global Strategy Institute and the Smart Power initiative at CSIS agree. Advantageous foreign policy is incubated and implemented when leaders maintain an environment of trust. This asset, while difficult to construct overnight, is critical to the long-term success of any international agenda. Trust should be cultivated by bridging partnerships between government and civil society actors and by empowering strategic links between leaders and citizens.

This need is especially pertinent to the president-elect. Forced to manage a prolonged engagement in Iraq and Afghanistan, the incoming administration must pioneer a path of international respect by adhering to a doctrine of trust and transparency. Beginning January 20th, 2009, honesty will need to be the cornerstone of every policy.