Title
Flawed by Design: The Evolution of the CIA, JCS, and NSC,Used
Sold by Ergodebooks, an authorized reseller.
Returns accepted within 30 days | support@ergodebooks.com
Shipping Information
- Free Standard Shipping — United States only
- Processing Time: 1–3 business days
- Estimated Delivery: 3–5 business days after dispatch
- Double-boxed, fully insured & discreetly packaged
- Tracking number sent via email once dispatched
- Orders over $250 require signature upon delivery. Taxes calculated at checkout.
Returns & Refund
Returns accepted within 30 days of delivery.
Damaged or Defective Item
Free return shipping + replacement or full refund
Wrong Item Received
Free return shipping + replacement or full refund
Change of Mind
Return shipping at customer's expense · 25% restocking fee applies
Payment Option
In this provocative and thoughtful book, Amy Zegart challenges the conventional belief that national security agencies work reasonably well to serve the national interest as they were designed to do. Using a new institutionalist approach, Zegart asks what forces shaped the initial design of the Central Intelligence Agency, the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the National Security Council in ways that meant they were handicapped from birth.Ironically, she finds that much of the blame can be ascribed to cherished features of American democracyfrequent elections, the separation of powers, majority rule, political compromiseall of which constrain presidential power and give Congress little incentive to create an effective foreign policy system. At the same time, bureaucrats in rival departments had the expertise, the staying power, and the incentives to sabotage the creation of effective competitors, and this is exactly what they did.Historical evidence suggests that most political players did not consider broad national concerns when they forged the CIA, JCS, and NSC in the late 1940s. Although President Truman aimed to establish a functional foreign policy system, he was stymied by selfinterested bureaucrats, legislators, and military leaders. The NSC was established by accident, as a byproduct of political compromise; Navy opposition crippled the JCS from the outset; and the CIA emerged without the statutory authority to fulfill its assigned role thanks to the Navy, War, State, and Justice departments, which fought to protect their own intelligence apparatus.Not surprisingly, the new security agencies performed poorly as they struggled to overcome their crippled evolution. Only the NSC overcame its initial handicaps as several presidents exploited loopholes in the National Security Act of 1947 to reinvent the NSC staff. The JCS, by contrast, remained mired in its ineffective design for nearly forty yearsi.e., throughout the Cold Warand the CIAs pivotal analysis branch has never recovered from its origins. In sum, the author paints an astonishing picture: the agencies Americans count on most to protect them from enemies abroad are, by design, largely incapable of doing so.
⚠️ WARNING (California Proposition 65):
This product may contain chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer, birth defects, or other reproductive harm.
For more information, please visit www.P65Warnings.ca.gov.
- Q: What is the main theme of 'Flawed by Design'? A: 'Flawed by Design' explores how the Central Intelligence Agency, Joint Chiefs of Staff, and National Security Council were designed with inherent limitations that hinder their effectiveness in serving national interests.
- Q: Who is the author of 'Flawed by Design'? A: The author of 'Flawed by Design' is Amy Zegart, a recognized expert on national security and intelligence.
- Q: When was 'Flawed by Design' published? A: 'Flawed by Design' was published on August 25, 2000.
- Q: What is the format of this book? A: 'Flawed by Design' is available in paperback format.
- Q: How many pages does 'Flawed by Design' have? A: 'Flawed by Design' contains 336 pages.
- Q: Is 'Flawed by Design' a new or used book? A: 'Flawed by Design' is classified as a new book.
- Q: What are the key features of 'Flawed by Design'? A: The key features of 'Flawed by Design' include its critical analysis of national security agencies and its exploration of how American democracy impacts foreign policy effectiveness.
- Q: What approach does Amy Zegart take in this book? A: Amy Zegart employs a new institutionalist approach to examine the historical and political factors influencing the design of key national security agencies.
- Q: Are there any notable criticisms made in 'Flawed by Design'? A: Yes, the book criticizes how self-interested bureaucrats and political structures have hindered the effectiveness of the CIA, JCS, and NSC.
- Q: What is the significance of the National Security Act of 1947 in the book? A: The National Security Act of 1947 is significant in 'Flawed by Design' as it established the framework for the NSC, which Zegart argues was created through political compromise rather than strategic design.