The Policy Playbook: Building a Systems-Oriented Approach to Technology and National Security Policy

Audio versions of blogs and papers from BlueDot courses. 

This report by the Center for Security and Emerging Technology first analyzes the tensions and tradeoffs between three strategic technology and national security goals: driving technological innovation, impeding adversaries’ progress, and promoting safe deployment. It then identifies different direct and enabling policy levers, assessing each based on the tradeoffs they make.

While this document is designed for US policymakers, most of its findings are broadly applicable.

Original text:
https://cset.georgetown.edu/wp-content/uploads/The-Policy-Playbook.pdf

Authors:
Jack Corrigan, Melissa Flagg, and Dewi Murdick

A podcast by BlueDot Impact.

Chapters

• 0:19 Executive Summary
• 2:48 Introduction
• 7:21 Strategic Technology and National Security Goals
• 8:43 Goal 1: Drive Technological Innovation
• 11:42 Goal 2: Impede Adversaries’ Progress
• 14:16 Goal 3: Promote Safe, Values-Driven Deployment
• 17:46 Tensions Among Goals
• 22:46 Government Levers of Power
• 27:04 Direct Levers of Power
• 27:27 Competition Policy
• 31:06 Controls
• 32:48 Funding and Investment
• 33:56 Immigration Policy
• 35:36 Infrastructure
• 37:06 Procurement
• 38:19 Statutes, Regulations, and Standards
• 40:12 Taxes and Trade
• 42:13 Workforce Development
• 44:21 Enabling Levers of Power
• 45:39 International Coalitions (Amplifier)
• 46:36 Place-Based Programs (Amplifier)
• 48:13 Information Sharing (Amplifier)
• 49:29 Convening (Amplifier)
• 50:25 Research, Analysis, and Intelligence (Planning & Monitoring)
• 51:48 Portfolio Management and Bundling (Planning & Monitoring)
• 52:51 Other Options
• 53:15 Conclusion