Implementing Restraint: Changes in U.S. Regional Security Policies to Operationalize a Realist Grand Strategy of Restraint
Abstract
In recent years, there have been growing calls from both sides of the aisle for the United States to rethink its global role. Domestic challenges are putting additional pressures on the federal budget, and these pressures could lead to greater demands to reexamine the policy choices that drive national security spending. This report presents one option for a new U.S. approach to the world: a realist grand strategy of restraint. Like the current U.S. grand strategy, a grand strategy of restraint emphasizes great-power relations and identifies China as the greatest potential threat to the United States. Yet, in other regards, advocates of restraint disagree with the current U.S. approach. Under a grand strategy of restraint, the United States would have a much narrower conception of its interests, reduce its forward military presence,renegotiate or end many of its existing security commitments, resolve conflicts of interest and cooperate more with other great powers, and have a higher threshold for the use of military force.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 2021
- Accession Number
- AD1121125
Entities
People
- Bryan Rooney
- Jeffrey Martini
- Miranda Priebe
- Nathan Beauchamp-mustafaga
- Stephanie Pezard
Organizations
- RAND Corporation