A Hard Look at Hard Power: Assessing the Defense Capabilities of Key US Allies and Security Partners (2nd Ed.)
Abstract
After World War II, facing an assertive, ideologically competitive Soviet threat, the United States built a liberal global order that deterred theSoviet threat and created the political, diplomatic, and economic space that made for a prosperous, democratic West. Although this effort had many components, a key element was the establishment of a worldwide web of American-led alliances that helped keep another war between the great powers at bay no small feat, given the century had been marked by two world wars with devastating costs in blood and wealth. With the demise of the Soviet Union and Chinas turn from an isolated, Maoist regime to an ambitious participant in globalization, the need to sustain Americas alliances was less evident to Washington and democratic capitals around the world. Part of the peace dividend resulting from victory in the Cold War was less time and attention ensuring the military capabilities of allies and partners was being sustained. The first Gulf War was fought with the legacy forces of the Cold War, and, since then, conflicts have been fought with militaries that appeared at timesundersized and not fully equipped. Efforts to address these shortfalls have been complicated by the Great Recession of 200809 and the domestic policy demands Western democracies have prioritized. Those complications continue to exist, even as the global security environment has grown more difficult. Strong alliances with partner and allied militaries that are sufficiently equipped, trained, and ready are a growing strategic requirement; collective defense will be even more important if the various and serious global security challenges are to be met. This second edition of A Hard Look at Hard Power makes an important contribution to understanding the status of the contributions key American allies and partners can make to collective defense.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 2020
- Accession Number
- AD1133073
Entities
People
- Alessandro Scheffler
- Andrew A. Michta
- Ashley J. Tellis
- Bruce W. Bennett
- Craig Kennedy
- Gabriel Elefteriu
- Gary J. Schmitt
- Heinrich Brauss
- Michael Mazza
- Olivier Schmitt
- Stephan Fruhling
- Toshi Yoshihara
Organizations
- United States Army War College