PDP Co-Director Perry meets with General Xu Caihou, vice-chairman of China's Central Military Commission.
PDP content now available through Harvard and Stanford websites
Effective July 1, 2009, the Preventive Defense Project will be run solely out of the Stanford office.
To access content for the 1997 - July 1, 2009 timeframe, you may search the Harvard Kennedy School PDP site.
Post-July 1, 2009, please go to the Stanford PDP site.
FEATURED PUBLICATIONS
March 2, 2009
NATO expert Elizabeth Sherwood-Randall named to national security posts
Elizabeth Sherwood-Randall, PDP Founding Senior Advisor and CISAC Senior Research Scholar, has been named special assistant to the president and senior director for European affairs at the National Security Council.
January 2009
Defense Management Challenges for the Next American President
Orbis, issue 1, volume 53
By Dr. Ashton B. Carter, Co-Director, Preventive Defense Project (on leave), Harvard & Stanford Universities
PDP Co-Director Dr. Ashton B. Carter explores the daunting list of national security challenges facing the next American president.
August 14, 2008
"Strengthening our Strategy Against WMD"
Boston Globe
By Dr. Ashton B. Carter, Co-Director, Preventive Defense Project (on leave), Harvard & Stanford Universities and The Honorable Robert G. Joseph
Dr. Ashton B. Carter and Ambassador Robert G. Joseph discuss recommendations stemming from recommendations in final report of the review they co-chaired of the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) and other DOD efforts to counter weapons of mass destruction.
AP Photo
June 2008
Military Elements in a Strategy to Deal with Iran's Nuclear Program
By Dr. Ashton B. Carter, Co-Director, Preventive Defense Project (on leave), Harvard & Stanford Universities
PDP Co-Director Ashton B. Carter explores military elements in the U.S. strategy for addressing Iran's nuclear program.
AP Photo
April 15, 2008
Actions Now for the Day After: Findings of the Preventive Defense Day After Project
By Dr. Ashton B. Carter, Co-Director, Preventive Defense Project (on leave), Harvard & Stanford Universities
PDP Co-Director Ashton B. Carter testifies before the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
Department of Defense
February 7, 2008
PDP Hosts Workshop on Defense Management Challenges in the Post-Bush Era
By Robin Olsen and Jennifer C. Bulkeley, Former Research Fellow, International Security Program, 2008-2009; Former Research Assistant, Preventive Defense Project, 2007-2009
On February 7, 2008, PDP Co-Directors Ashton B. Carter and William J. Perry hosted one in a series of workshops entitled “Defense Management Challenges in the Post-Bush Era.” The off-the-record workshop, held in Washington, DC, focused on what management challenges the next administration will face in the next two to five years. The management issues include balancing strategy and resources in a tightening budget climate, leveraging America’s technology and industrial bases to sustain a competitive edge, resetting civil-military relations, and extending the concept of national security management to include non-military capabilities.
October 17, 2007
PDP Co-Director William J. Perry named to Pentagon’s Defense Policy Board
Secretary Gates named PDP Co-Director William J. Perry to the Pentagon’s Defense Policy Board. The Board provides the Secretary of Defense with independent, informed advice and opinion concerning major matters of defense policy. It focuses on long-term issues central to the Pentagon’s strategic planning, and is responsible for research and analysis of topics, long- or short-range, as requested by the Secretary, Deputy Secretary, and Under Secretary for Policy.
Autumn 2007
The Day After: Action Following a Nuclear Blast in a U.S. City
Washington Quarterly, issue 4, volume 30
By Dr. Ashton B. Carter, Co-Director, Preventive Defense Project (on leave), Harvard & Stanford Universities, Dr. William J. Perry, Former Co-Director, Preventive Defense Project and Dr. Michael M. May
Failure to develop a comprehensive contingency plan, such as the one proposed here, and inform the American public, where appropriate, about its particulars will only serve to amplify the devastating impact of any nuclear attack on a U.S. city
Fall 2007
"Tend to Turkey"
Democracy: A Journal of Ideas
By Dr. Elizabeth D. Sherwood-Randall, Former Founding Senior Advisor, Preventive Defense Project
Dr. Elizabeth D. Sherwood-Randall's article in Democracy: A Journal of Ideas.
September 1, 2007
Preventive Defense Project Welcomes Gen. Abizaid, Gen. Jones as Senior Advisors
By Doug Presley
The Preventive Defense Project (PDP) is pleased to welcome General (ret.) John P. Abizaid and General (ret.) James L. Jones onboard as Senior Advisors. As Senior Advisors, their insights from a combined 74 years of active duty service will be invaluable in helping the Project analyze problems across the full range of national security and foreign policy issues. Given their extensive service in strategic level command positions, Generals Abizaid and Jones will bring a wealth of experience to complement the already stellar group affiliated with PDP, led by Co-Directors Ashton B. Carter and William J. Perry.
March / April 2007
China on the March
National Interest, issue 88
By Dr. Ashton B. Carter, Co-Director, Preventive Defense Project (on leave), Harvard & Stanford Universities and Dr. William J. Perry, Former Co-Director, Preventive Defense Project
China's announcement of a major increase in military spending has raised many questions about the future of Washington's relations with Beijing. In the March/April 2007 issue of The National Interest, Ashton B. Carter and William J. Perry provide answers.
October 2006
Alliances and American National Security
By Dr. Elizabeth D. Sherwood-Randall, Former Founding Senior Advisor, Preventive Defense Project
In this era of American predominance, alliances are more compelling than ever. The United States needs allies to generate capabilities that amplify its power, create a basis of legitimacy for the exercise of its power, avert impulses to counterbalance its power, and steer partners away from strategic apathy or excessive self-reliance.
September 10, 2006
Plan B for Iran: What if Nuclear Diplomacy Fails?
By Dr. Ashton B. Carter, Co-Director, Preventive Defense Project (on leave), Harvard & Stanford Universities and Dr. William J. Perry, Former Co-Director, Preventive Defense Project
The Preventive Defense Project conducted a Washington WMD Workshop entitled "Iran Plan B Design" to collect the best thinking on the design of a plan for dealing with Iran's nuclear program should diplomacy fail and the Iranians continue on the path to nuclear capability.
July/August 2006
America's New Strategic Partner?
Foreign Affairs, issue 4, volume 85
By Dr. Ashton B. Carter, Co-Director, Preventive Defense Project (on leave), Harvard & Stanford Universities
In 2006, the U.S. and Indian governments struck a deal that recognizes India as a nuclear weapons power. Critics say Washington gave up too much too soon and at a great cost to nonproliferation efforts. Perhaps. But India could in time become a valuable security partner. So despite the deal’s flaws and the uncertainties surrounding its implementation, Washington should move forward with it.
September/October 2004
How to Counter WMD
Foreign Affairs, issue 5, volume 83
By Dr. Ashton B. Carter, Co-Director, Preventive Defense Project (on leave), Harvard & Stanford Universities
Dr. Ashton B. Carter explains the counterproliferation policies needed to successfully wage a war on Weapons of Mass Destruction.
