American Grand Strategy and the Liberal Order: Continuity, Change and Options for the Future

Abstract

Since the end of World War II, the United States has pursued its global interests through a policy of consistent but evolving support for a liberal international order. In recent years, however, international challenges - such as the rise of new powers, climate change, and failed states - have led to an intensified debate about the future of the U.S. relationship with that order. To inform this debate, this Perspective identifies areas of continuity and change in the historical U.S. approach to international order. It then outlines four alternative strategies that the United States might pursue vis--vis the liberal order in the future and proposes criteria for choosing among these options.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jan 01, 2016
Accession Number
AD1156406

Entities

People

  • Hal Brands

Organizations

  • RAND Corporation

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Counter WMD
  • Energy and Power Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force
  • Arms Control
  • Foreign Policy
  • Foreign Relations
  • Geography
  • Globalization
  • Governments
  • Intergovernmental Organizations
  • International Law
  • International Organizations
  • International Relations
  • International Security
  • Investments
  • National Politics
  • National Security
  • Political Systems
  • Sociopolitics
  • Treaties
  • United States

Fields of Study

  • Political science

Readers

  • Strategic Security Studies