Congress And The Politics Of National Security

The article discusses the need for a re-evaluation of the national security system in light of the increasing complexity and unpredictability of the world. It specifically focuses on the role of Congress in this system and questions whether it is adequately organized to deal with national security issues. The article also examines how changes in Congress, such as increased partisanship and message politics, have affected security policy. It looks at the different ways Congress has engaged with federal agencies responsible for national security and considers the impact of domestic political factors on security policy.

In an increasingly complex and unpredictable world, a growing number of observers and practitioners have called for a re-examination of our national security system. Central to any such reform effort is an evaluation of Congress. Is Congress adequately organized to deal with national security issues in an integrated and coordinated manner? How have developments in Congress over the past few decades, such as heightened partisanship, message politics, party-committee relationships and bicameral relations, affected topical security issues? This volume examines variation in the ways Congress has engaged federal agencies overseeing our nation's national security as well as various domestic political determinants of security policy.