Written for foreign policy practitioners, scholars, and students, this book offers critical insights into the modern landscape of international politics and warfare and explains how the United States can sustain its strategic advantages in the 21st century and beyond.
From the level of grand strategy to more intricate security issues, this book explores how the United States can sustain its strategic military and political advantages around the world. Developing and implementing effective national policies; fostering strong diplomatic and geopolitical ties with allies in Europe, the Indo-Pacific, and the Middle East; and managing an effective defense enterprise are key, according to the authors, to competing on a shifting international security landscape. Advancing the literature on grand strategy and outlining emerging critical issues in security, this book offers an overarching framework for strategy; an analysis of crucial security-related topics, such as cyber warfare; and informed opinions on components of competitive success, such as irregular warfare and partner building. Written by well-respected scholars, security professionals, and foreign policy practitioners, this book goes beyond focusing on hard power to consider how the U.S. can leverage its education institutions and a worldwide network of allies and partners to sustain its strategic advantage now and in the future.
Introduction Part I: Understanding the International Environment 1. Competitive Strategy in a Changing International Landscape, Christopher J. Bolan and Joel R. Hillison 2. Strategic Leadership for the Twenty-First Century, Craig Morrow 3. Does Winning Matter?, John A. Nagl and Thomas P. Newman 4. Responding to China’s Economic Statecraft: Maintaining America’s Edge in Relationships, Global Governance, and Innovation, James A. Frick 5. Reconceptualizing Small State Alignment in a Multipolar World, John A. Mowchan 6. Energy Security: Competition and Cooperation, Brett D. Weigle Part II: Competing and Winning with Allies and Partners 7. Fighting with Allies: A World War II Case Study, Kevin J. Weddle and Joel R. Hillison 8. Competing with Allies: Benefits and Burdens of NATO and European Union Relations, Joel R. Hillison and Maryann F. Foster 9. Expanding Partnerships and Alliances in the Indo-Pacific, Jerad I. Harper 10. Lessons from Our Adversaries and Partners on the Maritime Silk Road, Heather Levy 11. Advancing the U.S.–Vietnam Security Partnership from Obstacles to Opportunities, Thomas J. Bouchillon 12. Competing in the Middle East, Christopher J. Bolan 13. Irregular Warfare and U.S. Landpower, Kevin D. Stringer 14. Rethinking Security Cooperation in a Competitive World, Jerad I. Harper About the Editors and Contributors Index
Joel R. Hillison is Professor of National Security Studies at the United States Army War College, USA. Jerad I. Harper is Director of Regional Studies at the United States Army War College, USA. Christopher J. Bolan is Professor of Middle East Security Studies at the United States Army War College, USA.
Reviews for Sustaining America's Strategic Advantage
Readers looking for insights into how the United States can meet the formidable security challenges it faces should read Sustaining America's Strategic Advantage. I know many of the authors, and their lucid writing is grounded firmly in analytical rigor and practical experience. The book's premise, that the United States needs to leverage key advantages -- including strategic leader education and a global network of allies and partners -- with a greater emphasis on non-military instruments of power, is one that resonated powerfully with me as a retired Ambassador who served for 33 years in the U.S. Foreign Service. * Daniel Shields, Ambassador (ret.), Editorial Advisor, Journal of Indo-Pacific Affairs * This excellent volume sets a multi-dimensional foundation for American grand strategy that avoids the dangers of either exaggerating or underappreciating the potential of U.S. military power and also avoids the temptation of either overestimating or underestimating the overall strength of the United States at this crucial juncture in world history. Many grand strategies sound good; this one is actually based on a sound diagnosis of world conditions and a full awareness of the perils as well as the opportunities of the contemporary global order. * Michael E. O'Hanlon, Phil Knight Chair in Defense and Strategy, Brookings Institution, and author of Military History for the Modern Strategist: America's Major Wars since 1861 * We live in dangerous times! For those seeking to understand the complex challenges and challengers facing the United States and how to address them, read Sustaining America's Strategic Advantage. The authors bring both scholarly research and practitioner's experience to comprehensively explore the critical security challenges, our competitors' strategies, the benefits and burdens of allies, and the strategic leadership qualities required to leverage these insights and maintain America's competitive advantage. Their call for a grand strategy that is based on American Values, blends the United States' advantages, and embraces our many allies rings true in my experience. * Curtis M. Scaparrotti, General, U.S. Army, Retired; Former Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR) *