Building Partner Capacity (BPC): Analyzing Historical Case Studies

From 2006 to 2016, Building Partner Capacity BPC has increased in strategic importance as a key way for the United States to maintain national security. The 2006 Quadrennial Defense Review QDR outlined a road map for employing BPC, but to date, the United States has achieved mixed results. To determine best practices for future BPC employment, this research looked at two recent case studies of marginal BPC attempts Iraq and Afghanistan. These were juxtaposed against two successful BPC efforts the post-World War II occupation of Japan and Germany. With minimal investment, the United States improved the stability of Japan and Germany. Comparatively, the United States invested more time and money in Afghanistan and Iraq with less beneficial results. This research determined factors that led to the discrepancy and if the United States could apply these factors to future BPC efforts. This research found that the culture of the nation has the most significance when employing BPC efforts. Next, this research determined that a significant number of troops in the initial stages of a BPC effort to establish security, particularly related to an occupation, greatly increases the chances of successful BPC employment. Lastly, an external security threat gives focus to the BPC efforts and increases the likelihood BPC efforts will have the desired effect. American leaders continue to emphasize BPC through the QDR, NSS, and policy speeches. Determining best practices to maximize the effectiveness of BPC makes strategic sense to maximize time and financial investments.