Domestic Agricultural Subsidies' Impacts on National Security Objectives Relative to the SOUTHCOM AOR
Abstract
Strategic documents and policies, from the United States' National Security Strategy down to the SOUTHCOM Commander's Posture Statement to Congress, recognize the role of economic development and liberalized trade in promoting global and regional security. However, domestic agricultural subsidies appear to negate or limit the potential positive impacts of free trade agreements in the SOUTHCOM AOR. Two questions arise from this apparent disparity. First, are U.S. agricultural subsidies detrimental to free trade and trade liberalization in the SOUTHCOM AOR? Second, what role should the Department of Defense, specifically the Combatant Commander, assume in shaping domestic issues that undermine national defense objectives within a given AOR? This thesis will focus primarily on two cases of domestic agricultural subsidies that appear to most significantly impact international concerns regarding trade liberalization within the SOUTHCOM AOR. Domestic corn subsidies and cotton subsidies will be the primary cases due to the preponderance of information regarding the impacts of such subsidies on new and future trade agreements. Academic research and historical data confirm a statistically significant positive relationship between trade liberalization and economic growth and between economic growth and stability. However, domestic policies that limit the ability of free trade agreements to increase regional stability do not necessarily threaten U.S. national security. The SOUTHCOM Commander should attempt to influence domestic policies that foster instability within his AOR when such policies threaten U.S. national security.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 12, 2009
- Accession Number
- ADA502190
Entities
People
- Philip W. Goddard
Organizations
- United States Army Command and General Staff College