Alliances and American National Security

Abstract

The protection and advancement of the national security interests of the United States requires a greater investment than ever in alliances. In the intensely interconnected security environment of the 21st century, the view that alliances are encumbrances rather than enablers is flawed strategically. Alliances are the antithesis of altruism or passivity. They are a highly self-interested proposition in that they are an essential instrument for advancing American national security. Going forward, the purpose of alliances in U.S. national security policy must be fourfold: To generate capabilities that amplify American power; to create a basis of legitimacy for the exercise of American power; to avert impulses to counterbalance American power; and to steer partners away from strategic apathy or excessive self-reliance.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Oct 01, 2006
Accession Number
ADA457160

Entities

People

  • Elizabeth Sherwood-randall

Organizations

  • United States Army War College

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Biomedical
  • C4I
  • Counter WMD
  • Energy and Power Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Foreign Relations
  • Geography
  • Globalization
  • Governments
  • Intergovernmental Organizations
  • International Organizations
  • International Relations
  • International Security
  • National Politics
  • National Security
  • Nato
  • Security
  • Treaties
  • United States
  • Ussr
  • War Colleges
  • Weapons Of Mass Destruction

Readers

  • International Relations, focusing on Korea-Africa and North Korea-South Korea relations, and Nigeria-Latin American Relations.
  • Strategic Security Studies