Building Quote by Robert M. Gates
“power... Military success is not sufficient to win: economic development, institution-building and the rule of law, promoting internal reconciliation, good governance, providing basic services to the people, training and equipping indigenous military and police forces, strategic communications, and more of these, along with security, are essential ingredients for long-term success...”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Remarks on Afghanistan Strategy, United States Department of Defense, 2009
Military victory alone does not secure lasting peace; sustainable success requires economic growth, strong institutions, rule of law, reconciliation, good governance, basic services, capable local security forces, and strategic communication.
In simple terms: Winning wars isn’t enough; peace needs economics, institutions, and good governance.
Key Takeaway
Combine security with development and governance.
Themes
security
development
governance
institution building
reconciliation
strategic communication
Mood
pragmatic
realistic
optimistic
Type
policy
strategic
analytical
When to use this quote
- post‑conflict reconstruction
- foreign aid planning
- local security force training
- public diplomacy
- policy formulation
Key Concepts
statebuilding
nationbuilding
civil-military relations
legitimacy
Questions to Reflect On
- How can development be synchronized with security operations?
- What mechanisms ensure local ownership of reforms?
A Different Perspective
Economic and institutional reforms can be slow and face resistance, undermining security gains.
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