ing point . As governance reform is a core thrust within US intervention frameworks , this document argues for improving future operations through a paradigm shift away from top-down R & S interventions . This shift changes the interveners ’ focus from producing effective stable democratic government structure . Instead , operations should flexibly analyze the social , economic and political conditions that local populations aspire to , and support the design and growth of fit-for-purpose structures of governance to produce stable democracies , ensuring civil society involvement in decisionmaking and design .
The author bases this recommendation on the recognition that both failures and successes tend to show commonalities . Repeated failures tend to show a checklist mentality , and the inclination to prioritize technical fixes over building relationships and developing inclusive processes . Off-the-shelf institution-building without sufficient up-front analysis of local conflict dynamics and social schisms often leads to temporary gains at best , or abject failure at worst . Successes are often tied to adaptive structure that correct the top-down approach .
Gregory P . Dewitt Colonel , U . S . Army Director , U . S . Army Peacekeeping
And Stability Operations Institute
iv