America in the World

The benefits of conciliation with Russia and with Cuba

Articles highlighted recent on America in the World's Notable Arguments blog include:

• Rens Lee: Reasons for America to rethink the embargo on Cuba
• Henry Kissinger and George Schultz: America should build on common ground with Russia

A challenge to claims about America's historic isolationism

Robert Kaufman's recent book In Defense of the Bush Doctrine takes on the challenge of defending the Bush Administration from some of its many critics.

The book is a defence not of the administration in all it has done, but specifically of the two components that Kaufman understands to make up its dominant foreign policy doctrine: (i) deterrence and containment cannot head off threats, and so pre-emptive and preventative action are sometimes needed; (ii) democracy promotion.

Kaufman devotes a chapter of the book to each of the rival theories critical of this doctrine, which he defines as 'moral democratic realism'.

The first chapter examines the notion of American isolationism. As indicated in our mastheard above, AmericaInTheWorld opposes isolationism in America as much as we oppose anti-Americanism from the rest of the world. Both of these beliefs are contrary to the view we take that America and American engagement in the world are to be welcomed. In light of this view, we find particularly compelling Kaufman's opening chapter, and its refutation of the often vague idea that up until the early twentieth century, America prospered quite safely and happily by following this doctrine.

From America's birth until the twentieth century, Kaufman argues, the degree to which America was isolationist must be understood in light of Britain's role as the offshore balancer throughout this period. He quotes Henry Kissinger:

"Geopolitically, America is an island off the shores of a large landmass of Eurasia, whose resources and population far exceed the United States. The domination by a single power of either of Eurasia's two principal spheres - Europe or Asia - remains a good definition of strategic danger for America ... For such a grouping would add the capacity to outstrip America economically, and in the end, militarily."

Fortunately for America, until the First World War Great Britain was both capable and willing to prevent one single power dominating these parts of the world. America's ability to resist involvement in European conflicts therefore ended not when American statesmen changed their minds, but when Britain proved incapable of resisting alone those who risked dominating Europe. As Theodore Roosevelt is quoted as saying:

"As long as England succeeds in keeping up the balance of power in Europe, not only in principle but reality, well and good. Should she, however, fail in doing so, the United States should be obliged to step in, at least temporarily, in order to reestablish the balance of power in Europe, never mind against which country or countries our efforts have to be directed. In fact, we are becoming, owing to our strength and geographical situation, more and more the balance of power of the whole globe."

The United States also relied on Britain, in this period, to protect the Monroe Doctrine of opposing any intervention by Europe in South America. This was scarcely an isolationist position, and nor was it respected by European nations. Rather it succeeded as a doctrine because of British opposition to its rivals expanding into South America, and her willingness to use the Royal Navy to prevent it.

Notable arguments - on terrorism, Russia and Europe

In Notable Arguments, AmericaInTheWorld's blog on the most lasting and compelling arguments - of all shades of opinion - relating to America's place in the world, we this week added three new pieces:

• Seth Jones and Martin Libicki argue that the history of terrorism suggests intelligence and cooperation with local actors will be key to beating Al Qaeda
• Ted Galen Carpenter writes that Washington can no longer ignore Russia's core interests
• Victor David Hanson contends that even those European elites who can be so critical of the US will often grudgingly acknowledge America's value

America's role and America in the World's role

On Notable Arguments today, we feature John Lewis Gaddis' argument that combating tyranny - but not so much promoting democracy - is America's historic mission.

In an article for Forward! magazine, Peter Cuthbertson writes about global anti-Americanism and how America in the World aims to combat it.

Three notable arguments

We've just uploaded three more notable arguments:

1. David Frum: China won't "catch up" any time soon
2. Justin Webb: The world wants the modernity that America provides
3. Osama bin Laden: The irresistibility of weakness