Francis Fukuyama, the Bernard L. Schwartz Professor of International Political Economy at the Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies at Johns Hopkins University and director of its International Development Program (Apr 23, 2008 at Cornell University)
A former specialist on the Middle East and Europe for the U.S. Department of State, Fukuyama called "hard power" -- using traditional military might against other states -- impossible in the Middle East, where few governments are strong enough to control nonstate groups within their own borders. Facing this new reality in many regions of the world, American leaders must focus not only on winning military confrontations, but also on developing the support of populations abroad, Fukuyama said.