Background:

Divergent Options is a non-politically aligned non-revenue generating national security website that, in 1,000 words or less, provides unbiased, dispassionate, candid articles that assess a national security situation, present multiple options to address the situation, and articulate the risk and gain of each option.  Please note that while we assess a national security situation and may provide options, we never recommend a specific option.

Below you will see a Call for Papers.  If you are not interested in writing on this topic, we always welcome individual articles on virtually any national security situation an author is passionate about.  Please do not let our call for papers cause you to hesitate to send us your idea. We look forward to hearing from you!

Call for Papers:

Divergent Options is calling for national security papers assessing situations or discussing options related to Maritime Strategy.

The U.S. is a maritime nation.  The Atlantic and Pacific Oceans have provided the U.S. protection and trade routes since inception.  U.S. internal waterways have provided a means to transport goods from the heartland to ports.  The number of deepwater ports straddling both coasts has enabled the U.S. to conduct trade on a global scale.

However, there is crisis in the maritime.  Both the U.S. Navy and Merchant Marine are struggling to recruit enough personnel to fully man their ships, crises such as the Keystone Bridge collapse in Baltimore highlight infrastructure challenges, and the attacks on shipping in the Red Sea demonstrate the fragility of the Global Commons.  There is a need for a Maritime Strategy, not just a Naval Strategy.

While this Call for Papers is primarily being driven by events in the United States, we welcome examinations of Maritime Strategy from any interested author. 

Below is a list of prompts that may inspire potential writers:

– What kind of upgrades do ports need?

– What is the best way to encourage people to join the Maritime Services?

– What changes should be made to internal infrastructure such as railroads and bridges to facilitate movement of goods to and from ports?

– How can ships defend against Unmanned Aerial Systems without using their most expensive missiles?

– How can shipbuilding and ship repair infrastructure be restored?

– How does one write a National Maritime Strategy?  Who write it?  Who coordinates on it?  Who approves it?

Please limit your submission to 1,000 words and write using our Options Paper or Assessment Paper templates which are designed for ease of use by both writers and readers alike.

Please send your article to submissions@divergentoptions.org by June 29, 2024.