Waging the First Postmodern War

Zalman, a writer for The New York Times online and part time professor of modern Middle Eastern history at The New School, examines the Pentagon’s 2006 Quadrennial Defense Review and changes in the U.S. military’s thinking about cultural awareness, language skills, and public diplomacy. She calls on the U.S. to “self-reflectively assess the actions it takes to engage foreign cultures” and argues that a “culturally aware military can promote conflict resolution.” Her article focuses on troop training and State Department public diplomacy programs.