Restructuring American Foreign Policy

by John D. Steinbruner (Editor)

"
In the final days of this century, the United States will need to amend the core of its foreign policy—a formidable task in a large democracy. American thinking, still grounded in post-World War II perceptions, has failed to keep pace with the demands of a changing world. New realities in the U.S. and international economies, in security conditions, and in world politics call for restructuring American foreign policy. The policy experts contributing to this volume state the process of public debate that must precede the hard political choices ahead. Barry P. Bosworth and Robert Z. Lawrence consider the ramifications of an American economy no longer an implicit source of leverage in pursuing policy objectives. William W. Kaufmann prescribes ways to preserve international commitments and ensure American security in spite of fiscally constrained defense budgets. John D. Steinbruner discusses efforts to achieve a more stable military balance. In a related chapters, Kenneth Flamm and Thomas L. McNaugher propose a redraft of American investment patterns to make the defense technology more consistent with contemporary security requirements. All of this domestic restructuring will take place within the constraints and opportunities created by recent changes in China and the Soviet Union, continued economic expansion in Japan, and persistent unrest in the Middle East. Harry Harding and Ed A. Hewett review the prospects for reform in China and the Soviet Union. Harry Harding and Edward Lincoln describe the surge in many Asian economies and the increased importance of Japan as a world power. And in the final chapter, Harold H. Saunders turns attention to the Middle East, where identifying desirable solutions continues to be far easier than finding realistic methods for achieving them. The inauguration of a new administration creates an opportunity for political debate, a new conceptual focus, and effective political consensus. Restructuring American Foreign Policy opens the debate.
"

273 pages, Paperback

First published November 28, 1988

Reviews

[Liquidlasagna · Rating 3 out of 5]

inside a late 1980s Think Tank Paper
in 7 areas
broken down into 30 small essays

'In the final decade of an eventful century, the United States faces the probable necessity of altering the basic objectives and operating principles of its foreign policy - a formidable problem in a large democracy. The imperative is created by changes in the economy, in security conditions, and in the substance of international politics too extensive to be assimilated into the habits of mind and domestic consensus formed in the aftermath of World War II. The adjustment required is largely constructive, with opportunity proving as strong a motive as danger. It will nonetheless be difficult because it is compelled more by force of circumstance than by trend of opinion. Ideas that have dominated American perceptions and organized American policy for two generations will have to be reformulated. Some hard political choices will have to be made, whether by design or by default.

'The matters at stake are certain important enough to inspire new lines of thought and sharp political decisions. The prosperity of the next generation of Americans is in question.'

.........

1 Introduction 1
2 American's Global Rule: From Dominance to Independence 12
3 A Defence Agenda for Fiscal Years 1990-1994 48
4 The Prospect for Cooperative Security 94
5 Rationalizing Technology Investments 119
6 Socialist Reforms and the World Economy 158
7 The East Asian Laboratory 185
8 The Arab-Israel Conflict in a Global Perspective 221
9 Index 253

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Breakdown

1 Introduction 1

The Current Events
The Political Process
The Formative Decisions
The Tempering Conditions
Implications


2 American's Global Rule: From Dominance to Independence 12

Domestic Imbalances
The Issue of Competitiveness
Policy Options
Concluding Comments


3 A Defence Agenda for Fiscal Years 1990-1994 48

The Problem of Defense Spending
Current Solutions
A New Five-Year Plan
The Issue of Choice
The Next Five Years
Conclusions
Appendix A
Appendix B


4 The Prospect for Cooperative Security 94

Policy Tensions
Potential Outcomes
Implications


5 Rationalizing Technology Investments 119

The Heritage 121
The Logic of Government Policy 131
Changing Circumstances of Military and Commercial Research and Development 136
New Strategies for Investment 148


6 Socialist Reforms and the World Economy 158

Causes and Consequences of Socialism's Isolation
A Model of Socialist Integration with the World Economy
Current Reforms in the Soviet Union and China
Could the Future Be Different?
Implications for the West


7 The East Asian Laboratory 185

The Economic Imperative 187
Pressure for Political Liberalization 200
The Diffusion of Power 206
Conclusion 218


8 The Arab-Israel Conflict in a Global Perspective 221

Power and Politics in the Arab-Israeli Arena
Power and Politics in a Changing World
The Arab-Israeli Conflict and Peace Process
Elements of a Comprehensive Political Scenario
A Concluding Word


9 Index 253