Analysis & Opinions - Foreign Policy
America Has a Commitment Problem
Do Americans agree about anything anymore? Well, yes. Apart from a handful of unrepentant neoconservatives and reflexive warmongers (including, alas, the present national security advisor), I think there's a growing consensus that the United States is overextended. We’re still fighting at least two wars (while conducting a whole bunch of more-or-less clandestine operations against various extremists in various places), and we are formally committed by treaty to defending more countries than at any time in U.S. history. There is little or no consensus on how to deal with this situation, but even those who think U.S. global leadership is the only thing preserving the world from barbarism might concede the need for a bit of readjustment these days.
Which raises an interesting question: How did this happen? How do states get overextended? If the world is highly competitive and it's important to set priorities and focus on the big challenges, then why would any country take on commitments that were of secondary importance or beyond its means? And if it did, why would it hang onto them after it was clear that the costs far outweighed the benefits?...
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For Academic Citation:
Walt, Stephen M.“America Has a Commitment Problem.” Foreign Policy, January 29, 2019.
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Do Americans agree about anything anymore? Well, yes. Apart from a handful of unrepentant neoconservatives and reflexive warmongers (including, alas, the present national security advisor), I think there's a growing consensus that the United States is overextended. We’re still fighting at least two wars (while conducting a whole bunch of more-or-less clandestine operations against various extremists in various places), and we are formally committed by treaty to defending more countries than at any time in U.S. history. There is little or no consensus on how to deal with this situation, but even those who think U.S. global leadership is the only thing preserving the world from barbarism might concede the need for a bit of readjustment these days.
Which raises an interesting question: How did this happen? How do states get overextended? If the world is highly competitive and it's important to set priorities and focus on the big challenges, then why would any country take on commitments that were of secondary importance or beyond its means? And if it did, why would it hang onto them after it was clear that the costs far outweighed the benefits?...
Want to Read More?
The full text of this publication is available at the original publication source.- Recommended
- In the Spotlight
- Most Viewed
Recommended
Analysis & Opinions - Foreign Policy
Europe's Future Is as China's Enemy
Analysis & Opinions - The National Interest
The Other Paris Peace Treaty (And Why the Spanish-American War Still Matters)
Analysis & Opinions - Foreign Policy
America's Anxiety of Influence
In the Spotlight
Most Viewed
Report - Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs, Harvard Kennedy School
NATO at Seventy: An Alliance in Crisis
Discussion Paper - Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs, Harvard Kennedy School
Why the United States Should Spread Democracy
Analysis & Opinions - Agence Global
Why We Should Worry About the Arab Region