Nation-building abroad has become a neuralgic term in American politics. Opposition to nation-building abroad is one of the few things that President Barack Obama and Donald Trump can agree on. And y…

With the increase in subnational international activity, the United States should create an appropriately staffed office within the State Department to serve as a facilitator. This achievable bureaucratic reform would enable the U.S. government to appropriately facilitate activity already underway, enlist city and state leaders as allies in U.S. diplomacy, and prevent policy confusion.

China is increasing its control over the South China Sea, and has used deceptive propaganda to conceal its destabilizing activities. The U.S. government should roll out information operations to expose China's behavior and hinder its ability to expand and consolidate power in the region.

Women are routinely underrepresented in peacekeeping operations, even though their participation has been shown to improve mission effectiveness and advance stability. The U.S. government should support a UN premium for police- and troop-contributing countries to increase the training and deployment of female peacekeepers.

Trump’s new approach to the Palestinians will do more harm than good. The United States cannot solve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, but it can and should avoid making it worse.