American Power and Liberal Order : A Conservative Internationalist Grand Strategy

Paul D. Miller offers a tough minded critique of recent trends in American grand strategy. He rejects retrenchment but also the excesses of liberal internationalism. He prescribes a conservative internationalist grand strategy to preserve the American security and leadership in the world while avoiding overstretch. /Originally written before the 2016 US presidential election, this first paperback edition contains a new preface that repositions the book's argument for the Trump era. Miller explains why President Trump's nationalist vision for American grand strategy damages US interests and world order. Miller blends academic rigor with his experiences as former member of the National Security Council and intelligence community to offer prescriptions for US grand strategy. He advocates for narrowing regional priorities and focusing on five strategic objectives: balancing against the nuclear autocracies, championing liberalism to maintain a favorable balance of power, thwarting the transnational jihadist movement, investing in governance in weak and failed states, and strengthening homeland security. /This book is a must read for scholars and students of international affairs and for anyone who is concerned about America's role in the world Contrary To Widespread Belief, The United States Has Been Following A Broadly Consistent Grand Strategy Across Presidential Administrations For More Than A Century By Using American Power To Create And Expand The Liberal International System. This Liberal Order Is The Outer Perimeter Of American Security. Today, After The Wars In Iraq And Afghanistan, Some Are Calling For A Policy Of Restraint Or Pulling Back Because They Believe America Is Relatively Safe And Its Resources Are Overstretched. Paul D. Miller Argues That They Are Wrong. American Security And The Liberal International Order Need Us Leadership And Are In Jeopardy From Nuclear-armed Autocracies, Violent Non-state Actors, And The Failed States Who Harbor Them. In Response, The United States Should Not Pull Back But Should Continue To Promote Five Pillars Of American Grand Strategy: Maintaining A Favorable Balance Of Power Among The Great Powers, Defending The U.s. Homeland From Attack, Promoting Democracy, Investing In Good Governance Abroad, And Punishing Rogue Actors That Threaten Allies Or The Stability Of The International System. Miller Does However Call For Reprioitzing Where Around The Globe The United States Should Focus Its Energies In The Future, And He Proposes Common Sense Reforms To The Us National Security State So As To Better Manage Foreign Policy. A Framework For Thinking About U.s. Grand Strategy -- In Search Of A 21st Century Grand Strategy -- Power And Liberty : A History -- The New World Disorder -- Strategic Courses Of Action -- The Balance Of Power And The Democratic Peace -- Barbarians, Failed States, And Stability Operations -- Regional Application -- The Frontline : Europe And East Asia -- The Opportunity : South Asia -- The Quagmire : The Middle East -- The Periphery : Latin America And Africa -- The National Security Toolkit -- Homeland Defense -- Diplomacy And Development -- Military, Intelligence, And National Security Decision-making -- Conclusion. Paul D. Miller. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Contrary to widespread belief, the United States has been following a broadly consistent grand strategy across presidential administrations for more than a century by using American power to create and expand the liberal international system. This liberal order is the outer perimeter of American security. Today, after the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, some are calling for a policy of restraint or pulling back because they believe America is relatively safe and its resources are overstretched. Paul D. Miller argues that they are wrong. American security and the liberal international order need US leadership and are in jeopardy from nuclear-armed autocracies, violent non-state actors, and the failed states who harbor them. In response, the United States should not pull back but should continue to promote five pillars of American grand strategy: maintaining a favorable balance of power among the great powers, defending the U.S. homeland from attack, promoting democracy, investing in good governance abroad, and punishing rogue actors that threaten allies or the stability of the international system. Miller does however call for reprioritizing where around the globe the United States should focus its energies in the future, and he proposes common sense reforms to the US national security state so as to better manage foreign policy

The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan convinced many policymakers and scholars that the United States should pull back in international affairs and that restraint should guide grand strategy. Paul D. Miller offers a tough-minded critique of this trending body of thought, arguing that US security in fact depends on active, sustained support of the international liberal order.

Miller blends academic rigor with his experiences as former Director for Afghanistan and Pakistan on the National Security Council to offer conservative internationalist prescriptions for US grand strategy. Dismissing claims of overextended US resources and perceived safety, Miller argues that nuclear autocracies, armed non-state actors, failed states, and the transnational jihadist movement still pose immense threats to American security and the international system. His analysis offers policy options for balancing against the nuclear autocracies, championing liberalism to maintain the balance of power in its favor, targeting militant non-state actors, investing in governance in weak and failed states, and strengthening homeland security. As Miller shows, these necessary steps will fortify the international liberal order that forms the outer perimeter of American security—and aid US efforts to craft a more just peace among nations.

The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan convinced many policymakers and scholars that the United States should pull back in international affairs and that restraint should guide grand strategy. Paul D. Miller offers a tough-minded critique of this trending body of thought, arguing that US security in fact depends on active, sustained support of the international liberal order. Miller blends academic rigor with his experiences as former Director for Afghanistan and Pakistan on the National Security Council to offer conservative internationalist prescriptions for US grand strategy. Dismissing claims of overextended US resources and perceived safety, Miller argues that nuclear autocracies, armed non-state actors, failed states, and the transnational jihadist movement still pose immense threats to American security and the international system. His analysis offers policy options for balancing against the nuclear autocracies, championing liberalism to maintain the balance of power in its favor, targeting militant non-state actors, investing in governance in weak and failed states, and strengthening homeland security. As Miller shows, these necessary steps will fortify the international liberal order that forms the outer perimeter of American security and aid US efforts to craft a more just peace among nations."

Paul D. Miller offers a tough minded critique of recent trends in American grand strategy. He rejects retrenchment but also the excesses of liberal internationalism. He prescribes a conservative internationalist grand strategy to preserve the American security and leadership in the world while avoiding overstretch.

Originally written before the 2016 US presidential election, this first paperback edition contains a new preface that repositions the book's argument for the Trump era. Miller explains why President Trump's nationalist vision for American grand strategy damages US interests and world order. Miller blends academic rigor with his experiences as former member of the National Security Council and intelligence community to offer prescriptions for US grand strategy. He advocates for narrowing regional priorities and focusing on five strategic objectives: balancing against the nuclear autocracies, championing liberalism to maintain a favorable balance of power, thwarting the transnational jihadist movement, investing in governance in weak and failed states, and strengthening homeland security.

This book is a must read for scholars and students of international affairs and for anyone who is concerned about America's role in the world.

Part 1. A framework for thinking about US grand strategy. In search of a first-century grand strategy ; Power and liberty in US diplomatic history ; The new world disorder -- Part 2. Strategic courses of action. The balance of power and the democratic peace ; Barbarians, failed states, and stability operations -- Part 3. Regional application. The frontline : Europe and East Asia ; The opportunity : South Asia ; The quagmire : the Middle East ; The periphery : Latin America and Africa -- Part 4. The national security tool kit. Homeland defense ; Diplomacy and development ; Military, intelligence, and national security decision-making -- Conclusion