Q&A

Tom got these questions by email and answers them here (in bold):

Hello Dr. Barnett,

I heard you for the first time on the Hugh Hewitt show. I listened to the series of interviews you did and I am currently reading The Pentagon?s New Map. I am really taken by your positive view of the future. I am also currently looking at getting my masters degree and making a career change. I am particularly interested in grand strategy and working to shrink the gap. I was wondering if you could answer a few questions?

What makes a good grand strategist?

You have to find almost anything interesting and worthy of study. You need to be a horizontal thinker by nature.

What kind of educational credentials are most useful?

Study languages. Do a small amount in a number of languages as opposed to a long time in any one. Most grand strategy involves arbitraging concepts between domains, so translation skills are essential. You want to be able to master new languages at high speeds.

Where do you think the most exciting jobs expanding the core will be in the next few years?

Translating between technology and policy.

What is the most important piece of advice you have to give?

If you're not someone who loves anticipating events as opposed to experiencing them first-hand, don't go into this business. Also, get married and have kids.

And never turn down a chance at public speaking.

Thanks for your time,
AE
Champlin, MN

Comments

[SR]

Tom,Would you consider that you left out: have an optimistic nature? It seems to me that too many have such a pessimistic view of the future, that they are paralyzed when thinking out of the box about the future.

[Tom Barnett]

I guess I would say, have a work approach that's sufficiently horizontal and you will be optimistic.