Hidden State Capacity: How the Pentagon Houses America's Best Schools and Safest Nuclear Programs

Summary

The article explores the concept of "state capacity" within the U.S. Department of Defense, using a metaphor from The Expanse (Mars' unified dream vs. Earth's lost ambition) to frame a discussion about institutional competence. It examines how the Pentagon houses some of America's best schools and manages nuclear programs with exceptional safety standards, representing hidden pockets of governmental effectiveness. The piece contrasts this latent capacity with broader societal and governmental dysfunction, arguing that the U.S. still possesses significant institutional capability that is underutilized or obscured.