HKS Authors

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Abstract

In strategy, diagnosis precedes prescription. While accurate diagnosis does not always lead to a wise choice of treatments, misdiagnosis reliably predicts failed responses. For those outside a community of professionals to question the consensus of experts on the frontlines of the fight against coronavirus may seem presumptuous. But history offers many cases where facing novel threats, particularly ones in which professionals failed to anticipate the threat, their best efforts to understand what hit us have misdiagnosed the challenge—with tragic consequences.

Citation

Allison, Graham. "Coronavirus as a Strategic Challenge: Has Washington Misdiagnosed the Problem?" April 2020.