A security policy analysis paper requires students to research in depth a security issue of government or public concern. The security issue can be related to ongoing political debate or on a security concern, which has not yet gained the attention of policy makers. Some examples of security issues are terrorism, mass shootings, illegal immigration, drug cartels, gangs, and use of WMD materials. A security policy analysis defines the problem or issue at hand, describes its background and provides a balanced assessment of options that policy makers could pursue to resolve the problem. The paper should conclude with a recommended course of action for policy makers. Do not hesitate to contact me and discuss your topics. Please include “Research Paper” in the subject heading.
The policy paper should be at most eight (8) pages including references page; typed, double-spaced, in 12 size, Times New Roman font; and be prepared in APA formatting and citations. The paper must include at least five (5) scholarly citations.
A.  Policy Problem
Pick and introduce a specific security issue. Rather than preparing your policy paper on a general topic such as global terrorism or the impacts of natural disasters, try to select a researchable and analyzable specific topic. Whether the issue is the financial capacity of ISIS terrorist organization, the impacts of Hurricane Katrina over Homeland Security, or opioid epidemic in the U.S., you should identify a specific issue and articulate why it is important. For example, you can identify opioid epidemic in the United States using opioid overdose deaths statistics. Similarly, you can describe how ISIS has been a global threat using statistics on terrorist incidents perpetrated by ISIS. If you cannot find data or statistics, you can use governmental reports to introduce why it is a specific issue. Your description to identify a specific issue should also include why this security issue is threatening the U.S. or the world.
Place the issue in historical context by describing how the problem arose and outlining previous efforts, if any, to address the problem. To detail the issue and any prior policy responses, you can use a range of sources, including books, articles from scholarly journals, previous policy analyses, and government reports.
B.  Policy Discussion (Prior and Current Policies)
Summarize the results of prior policy efforts and identify the major stakeholders. These are the individuals and groups likely to affect or be affected by new government policies taken in response to the issue under discussion.
Discuss current policy alternatives. This forms the main body of your policy analysis research paper.
C. Policy Recommendation and Conclusion
Identify and recommend set of policy options government might take to resolve the issue. Be sure the options involve substantive policy measures aimed at the issue in question. This is a policy analysis, not a manifesto outlining broader social, economic or political changes. Your research on the issue and past policy actions will help you identify policy proposals and create new approaches for addressing the identified problem.
Examples
1.
Title: How AQAP is Threatening United States?
Policy Problem: Introduce why AQAP is a security issue and mention about terrorist attack attempts by AQAP targeting the United States (Underwear bomber, the role of Awlaki, the connection between Awlaki and Nidal Hassan, Awlaki’s role training and radicalizing individuals who are involved in terrorist attacks)
Place the AQAP issue in the historical context. Describe how AQAP was formed, where it is operating, what ideology is using, and how it is networked to global jihadist groups as well as how proxy war between Saudis and Iranians are creating opportunities for AQAP.
Policy Discussion: Summarize the prior policy efforts (counterterrorism policies used to target Al Qaeda in the region, targeting AQAP’s leaders by U.S.) and identify stakeholders (regional governments, Yemeni government, Iran, U.S.). Identify current policies (Saudi-led forces, U.S. drone attacks).
Policy Recommendation and Conclusion: Identify and recommend a set of policy options government might take to resolve the issue (increasing law enforcement capacity in the region, targeting the ties of Salafi-jihadist ideologists with AQAP, increasing the fight against financial resources, raising awareness on how corruption facilitates terrorism in the region, targeting military capacity of the organization, strengthening Yemeni government, finding solutions for ongoing civil war, increasing intelligence capacity e.t.c…)
2.
Title: Why Right-Wing extremists are a growing threat in the United States?
Policy Problem: Introduce why right-wing extremism (its definition) is a security issue and mention about recent attacks by right-wing extremists as well as why individuals are adopting right-wing ideology and making attacks.
Place the right-wing extremism issue in the historical context. Describe how right-wing groups have formed in the U.S., what ideology they are using, what right-wing groups have operated (KKK, Aryan Brotherhood, Atomwaffen Division, the Base…), the impacts of William Pierce, notable attacks by right-wing groups, their group structures, the leadership in right-wing groups, and their tactics.
Policy Discussion: Summarize the prior policy efforts (how U.S. governments treated right-wing groups in the past, what policies have been implemented, how politics have been influential over right-wing extremism issue, how gun laws are creating opportunities for these groups. Identify current policies over right-wing extremism.
Policy Recommendation and Conclusion: Identify and recommend a set of policy options U.S. government might take to resolve the issue.