America abroad : the United States' global role in the 21st century

A decade and a half of exhausting wars, punishing economic setbacks, and fast-rising rivals has called into question America's fundamental position and purpose in world politics. Will the US continue to be the only superpower in the international system? Should it continue advancing the world-shaping grand strategy it has followed since the dawn of the Cold War? Or should it "come home" and focus on its internal problems?The recent resurgence of isolationist impulses has made the politics surrounding these questions increasingly bitter. In __America Abroad__, Stephen G. Brooks and William C. Wohlforth take stock of these debates and provide a powerful defense of American globalism. They stress that world politics since end of World War Two has been shaped by two constants: America's position as the most powerful state, and its strategic choice to be deeply engaged in the world. Ever since, the US has advanced its interests by pursuing three core objectives: reducing threats by managing the security environment in key regions; promoting a liberal economic order to expand global and domestic prosperity; and sustaining the network of global institutions on terms favorable to US interests. While there have been some periodic policy failures, America's overall record is astounding. But how would America's interests fare if the United States chose to disengage from the world and reduce its footprint overseas? Their answer is clear: retrenchment would put core US security and economic interests at risk. And because America's sole superpower status will long endure, the US will not be forced to turn inward. While America should remain globally engaged, it also has to focus primarily on its core interests: reducing great power rivalry and security competition in Europe, East Asia, and the Middle East; fostering economic globalization; and supporting a multilateral institutional system that advances US interests. Pursuing objectives beyond this core runs the risk of overextension. A bracing rejoinder to the critics of American globalism, __America Abroad__ is a powerful reminder that a robust American presence is crucial for maintaining world order. A Decade Of Exhausting Wars, Punishing Economic Setbacks, Fast-rising Rivals And Unrealized Global Aspirations Has Called America's Global Role Into Question As Never Before. Will The Us Long Continue To Be The Only Superpower In The International System? Should It Sustain The World-shaping Grand Strategy It's Followed Since The Dawn Of The Cold War? While Opinions On Answers To These Questions Are Common, Answers Grounded In Scholarship Are Hard To Find Given The Lack Of Data And Theory Relevant To The 21st Century. In America Abroad, Stephen Brooks And William Wohlforth, Two Of The Nation's Leading International Relations Scholars, Fill This Gap With A Bracing Assessment Of Contemporary America's Shifting Global Role. They Show That United States' Position As A Peerless Superpower Will Be Secure Long Into The Future, And Turn To The Most Pressing Grand Strategic Question Of The Day: How Would America's Interests Fare If The United States Decided To Disengage From The World? Their Answer Runs Counter To A Rising Chorus Of Calls From Many Academics And Policy Makers For Us The Come Home: Retrenchment Would Put Core Us Security And Economic Interests At Risk. America Abroad Is Not, However, An Unalloyed Endorsement For The Foreign Policy Status Quo. By Providing A New Way To Think About The United States' Position In The World, Brooks And Wohlforth Move Beyond The Unrealistic Dichotomies That Characterize Much Of The Contemporary Debate. Although Rise Of China Will Not Soon End America's Career As The Sole Superpower, It Is A Significant Shift That Alters The Strategic Landscape And Demands Adjustments. The Authors Develop A Distinct Position In The Evolving Debate On Us Foreign Policy, Now Torn Between Calls For A More Expansive Style Of Global Leadership That Seeks To Remake The World In America's Image And Demands For It To Retrench And Leave The World's Troubles Behind. Their Findings Support America Remaining Globally Engaged But Focusing On Three Objectives That Have Been At The Core Of Us Foreign Policy Since The Cold War's Dawn: Reducing Great Power Rivalry And Security Competition In Europe, East Asia, And The Middle East; Fostering Economic Globalization; And Sustaining Institutionalized Cooperation That Advances America's Interests. Combining Insightful Analysis And Accessible Prose, America Abroad Will Force Us To Rethink Our Assumptions About The Nature And Utility Of Us Power In The Global Arena. -- Combining Scholarly Rigor And Accessible Prose, America Abroad Will Force Us To Rethink Our Assumptions About The Nature And Utility Of Us Power In The Global Arena-- Table Of Contents -- Chapter 1 -- Introduction -- Chapter 2 -assessing America's Global Position -- Chapter 3 -- Assessing Change In A One Superpower World -- Chapter 4 -- America's Grand Strategic Choice -- Chapter 5 -- The Security Logic Of Deep Engagement -- Chapter 6 -- Evidence For The Security Benefits Of Deep Engagement -- Chapter 7 -- Assessing The Economic Cost Of Deep Engagement -- Chapter 8 -- Assessing The Security Costs Of Deep Engagement -- Chapter 9 -- The Economic And Institutional Logic Of Deep Engagement -- Chapter 10 -- Assessing The Economic Benefits Of Deep Engagement -- Chapter 11 -- Conclusion. Stephen G. Brooks, William C. Wohlforth. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. A decade of exhausting wars, punishing economic setbacks, fast-rising rivals and unrealized global aspirations has called America's global role into question as never before. Will the US long continue to be the only superpower in the international system? Should it sustain the world-shaping grand strategy it's followed since the dawn of the Cold War? While opinions on answers to these questions are common, answers grounded in scholarship are hard to find given the lack of data and theory relevant to the 21st century. In America Abroad, Stephen Brooks and William Wohlforth, two of the nation's leading international relations scholars, fill this gap with a bracing assessment of contemporary America's shifting global role. They show that United States' position as a peerless superpower will be secure long into the future, and turn to the most pressing grand strategic question of the day: How would America's interests fare if the United States decided to disengage from the world? Their answer runs counter to a rising chorus of calls from many academics and policy makers for US the "come home": retrenchment would put core US security and economic interests at risk. America Abroad is not, however, an unalloyed endorsement for the foreign policy status quo. By providing a new way to think about the United States' position in the world, Brooks and Wohlforth move beyond the unrealistic dichotomies that characterize much of the contemporary debate. Although rise of China will not soon end America's career as the sole superpower, it is a significant shift that alters the strategic landscape and demands adjustments. The authors develop a distinct position in the evolving debate on US foreign policy, now torn between calls for a more expansive style of global leadership that seeks to remake the world in America's image and demands for it to retrench and leave the world's troubles behind. Their findings support America remaining globally engaged but focusing on three objectives that have been at the core of US foreign policy since the Cold War's dawn: reducing great power rivalry and security competition in Europe, East Asia, and the Middle East; fostering economic globalization; and sustaining institutionalized cooperation that advances America's interests. Combining insightful analysis and accessible prose, America Abroad will force us to rethink our assumptions about the nature and utility of US power in the global arena. -- Provided by publisher A decade and a half of exhausting wars, punishing economic setbacks, and fast-rising rivals has called into question America's fundamental position and purpose in world politics. Will the US continue to be the only superpower in the international system? Should it continue advancing the world-shaping grand strategy it has followed since the dawn of the Cold War? Or should it "come home" and focus on its internal problems? The recent resurgence of isolationist impulses has made the politics surrounding these questions increasingly bitter. In America Abroad , Stephen G. Brooks and William C. Wohlforth take stock of these debates and provide a powerful defense of American globalism. They stress that world politics since end of World War Two has been shaped by two constants: America's position as the most powerful state, and its strategic choice to be deeply engaged in the world. Ever since, the US has advanced its interests by pursuing three core objectives: reducing threats by managing the security environment in key regions; promoting a liberal economic order to expand global and domestic prosperity; and sustaining the network of global institutions on terms favorable to US interests. While there have been some periodic policy failures, America's overall record is astounding. But how would America's interests fare if the United States chose to disengage from the world and reduce its footprint overseas? Their answer is clear: retrenchment would put core US security and economic interests at risk. And because America's sole superpower status will long endure, the US will not be forced to turn inward. While America should remain globally engaged, it also has to focus primarily on its core interests: reducing great power rivalry and security competition in Europe, East Asia, and the Middle East; fostering economic globalization; and supporting a multilateral institutional system that advances US interests. Pursuing objectives beyond this core runs the risk of overextension. A bracing rejoinder to the critics of American globalism, America Abroad is a powerful reminder that a robust American presence is crucial for maintaining world order. A decade and a half of exhausting wars, punishing economic setbacks, and fast-rising rivals has called into question America's fundamental position and purpose in world politics. Will the US continue to be the only superpower in the international system? Should it continue advancing the world-shaping grand strategy it has followed since the Cold War? Or should it focus on internal problems? America Abroad takes stock of these debates and provides a powerful defense of American globalism. Since the end of World War Two, world politics has been shaped by two constants: America's position as the most powerful state, and its strategic choice to be deeply engaged in the world. But if America disengages from the world and reduces its footprint overseas, core US security and economic interests would be jeopardized. While America should remain globally engaged, it has to focus primarily on its core interests or run the risk of overextension. A bracing rejoinder to the critics of American globalism-a more potent force than ever in the Trump era- America Abroad is a powerful reminder that a robust American presence is crucial for maintaining world order. Âlthough rise of China will not soon end America's career as the sole superpower, it is a significant shift that alters the strategic landscape and demands adjustments. And they develop a distinct position in the evolving debate on US foreign policy, now torn between calls for a more expansive style of global leadership that seeks to remake the world in America's image and demands for it to retrench and leave the world's troubles behind. Their findings support America remaining globally engaged but focusing on three objectives that have been at the core of US foreign policy since the Cold War's dawn: reducing great power rivalry and security competition in Europe, East Asia, and the Middle East, fostering economic globalization, and sustaining institutionalized cooperation that advances America's interests. Combining scholarly rigor and accessible prose, America Abroad will force us to rethink our assumptions about the nature and utility of US power in the global arena Using new data and new approaches to measurement tailored to 21st century global politics, they show that United States' position as a peerless superpower will be secure long into the future. Engaging a vast body of the newest scholarship, they develop the theory needed to answer the most pressing grand strategic question of the day: How would America's interests fare if the United States decided to disengage from the world? Their answer runs counter to a rising chorus of calls from many academics and policy makers for US the "come home": retrenchment would put core US security and economic interests would be put at risk. America Abroad is not, however, an unalloyed endorsement for the foreign policy status quo. By providing a new way to think about the United States' position in the world, Brooks and Wohlforth move beyond the unrealistic dichotomies that characterize much of the contemporary debate A decade of exhausting wars, punishing economic setbacks, fast-rising rivals and unrealized global aspirations has called America's global role into question as never before. Will the US long continue to be the only superpower in the international system? Should it sustain the world-shaping grand strategy it's followed since the dawn of the Cold War? Everyone who thinks about international relations cares about these questions. But while opinions are common, answers grounded in scholarship are hard to find because of lack of data and theory relevant to the 21st as opposed to the 20th century. In America Abroad, Stephen Brooks and William Wohlforth, two of the nation's leading international relations scholars, fill this gap with a bracing assessment of contemporary America's shifting global role. Their findings will reorient the debate on America's future position and grand strategy Cover 1 America Abroad 4 Copyright 5 Dedication 6 Contents 8 Preface 10 Acknowledgments 12 1. Introduction 14 2. Assessing America’s Global Position 27 3. Assessing Change in a One-​Superpower World 61 4. America’s Grand Strategic Choice 86 5. The Security Logic of Deep Engagement 101 6. Assessing the Security Benefits of Deep Engagement 116 7. Assessing the Economic Cost of Deep Engagement 135 8. Assessing the Security Costs of Deep Engagement 147 9. The Economic and Institutional Logic of Deep Engagement 168 10. Assessing the Economic Benefits of Deep Engagement 184 11. Conclusion 203 Notes 214 Index 272