The American Way of Strategy : U.S. Foreign Policy and the American Way of Life

Americans are unlikely to lose their cherished rights because of a military coup or a foreign conquest, writes Michael Lind. The more plausible and frightening scenario is one in which foreign danger forces Americans themselves to jettison their way of life, sacrificing liberty to ensure security. To prevent this scenario from happening is the real purpose of American strategy. In The American Way of Strategy , Lind argues that the goal of U.S. foreign policy has always been the preservation of the American way of life--embodied in civilian government, checks and balances, a commercial economy, and individual freedom. Lind describes how successive American statesmen--from George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and Alexander Hamilton to Franklin Roosevelt, Dwight Eisenhower, and Ronald Reagan--have pursued an American way of strategy that minimizes the dangers of empire and anarchy by two means: liberal internationalism and realism. At its best, the American way of strategy is a well-thought-out and practical guide designed to preserve a peaceful and demilitarized world by preventing an international system dominated by imperial and militarist states and its disruption by anarchy. When American leaders have followed this path, they have lead our nation from success to success, and when they have deviated from it, the results have been disastrous. Framed in an engaging historical narrative, the book makes an important contribution to contemporary debates. The American Way of Strategy is certain to change the way that Americans understand U.S. foreign policy. Americans Are Unlikely To Lose Their Cherished Rights Because Of A Military Coup Or A Foreign Conquest, Writes Michael Lind. The More Plausible And Frightening Scenario Is One In Which Foreign Danger Forces Americans Themselves To Jettison Their Way Of Life, Sacrificing Liberty To Ensure Security. To Prevent This Scenario From Happening Is The Real Purpose Of American Strategy. In The American Way Of Strategy, Lind Argues That The Goal Of U.s. Foreign Policy Has Always Been The Preservation Of The American Way Of Life - Embodied In Civilian Government, Checks And Balances, A Commercial Economy, And Individual Freedom. Lind Describes How Successive American Statesmen - From George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, And Alexander Hamilton To Franklin Roosevelt, Dwight Eisenhower, And Ronald Reagan - Have Pursued An American Way Of Strategy That Minimizes The Dangers Of Empire And Anarchy By Two Means : Liberal Internationalism And Realism. At Its Best, The American Way Of Strategy Is A Well-thoughtout And Practical Guide Designed To Preserve A Peaceful And Demilitarized World By Preventing An International System Dominated By Imperial And Militarist States And Its Disruption By Anarchy. When American Leaders Have Followed This Path, They Have Led Our Nation From Success To Success, And When They Have Deviated From It, The Results Have Been Disastrous.--jacket. Defending The American Way Of Life -- The American Way Of Strategy -- Independence, Unity, And The American Way Of Life -- Averting A Balance Of Power In North America : Power Politics And American Expansion -- Why The United States Fought In World War I -- World War Ii And The American Way Of Life -- The Cold War -- The Cold Peace -- U.s. Hegemony And The American Way Of Life -- A Concert Of Power -- American Strategy In The Asian Century -- The American Way Of Military Strategy -- The American Way Of Trade -- The World Order Which We Seek. Michael Lind. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [261]-283) And Index. Americans are unlikely to lose their cherished rights because of a military coup or a foreign conquest, writes Michael Lind. The more plausible and frightening scenario is one in which foreign danger forces Americans themselves to jettison their way of life, sacrificing liberty to ensure security. To prevent this scenario from happening is the real purpose of American strategy.In The American Way of Strategy, Lind argues that the goal of U.S. foreign policy has always been the preservation of the American way of life - embodied in civilian government, checks and balances, a commercial economy, and individual freedom.Lind describes how successive American statesmen - from George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and Alexander Hamilton to Franklin Roosevelt, Dwight Eisenhower, and Ronald Reagan - have pursued an American way of strategy that minimizes the dangers of empire and anarchy by two means: liberal internationalism and realism.At its best, the American way of strategy is a well-thought-out and practical guide designed to preserve a peaceful and demilitarized world by preventing an international system dominated by imperial and militarist states and its disruption by anarchy. When American leaders have followed this path, they have lead our nation from success to success, and when they have deviated from it, the results have been disastrous.Framed in an engaging historical narrative, the book makes an important contribution to contemporary debates. The American Way of Strategy is certain to change the way that Americans understand U.S. foreign policy. Contents......Page 8 Acknowledgments......Page 10 Part I: America’s Purpose......Page 12 1 Defending the American Way of Life......Page 14 2 The American Way of Strategy......Page 34 Part II: A World Safe for American Democracy......Page 52 3 Independence, Unity, and the American Way of Life......Page 54 4 Averting a Balance of Power in North America: Power Politics and American Expansion......Page 66 5 Why the United States Fought in World War I......Page 90 6 World War II and the American Way of Life......Page 106 7 The Cold War......Page 121 8 The Cold Peace......Page 136 Part III: The Future of the American Way of Strategy......Page 160 9 U.S. Hegemony and the American Way of Life......Page 162 10 A Concert of Power......Page 182 11 American Strategy in the Asian Century......Page 200 12 The American Way of Military Strategy......Page 218 13 The American Way of Trade......Page 236 14 The World Order Which We Seek......Page 260 Notes......Page 272 A......Page 296 C......Page 297 D......Page 298 G......Page 299 I......Page 300 M......Page 301 O......Page 302 S......Page 303 U......Page 304 Z......Page 305 Tracing the history of American foreign policy, this book argues that successive US leaders have understood that the purpose of grand strategy is to ensure not only the physical defence of the people and territory of the US but also the defence of a distinct American way of life.