Definitions (Defensive) Defending territory Defending citizens Defending values Defending allies...

Definitions (Defensive) Defending territory Defending citizens Defending values Defending allies Defending preferred world order

Definitions (Offensive) Securing territory Spreading values Creating allies Building preferred world order

OLD DEFINITION? NEW DEFINITION?

Direct threats Other nations Rival powers Rival Ideas

Rival ideas Transnational

organized crime Migration Demographic

crises Health Failed states Economic stability

General George C. Marshall

National Security is Politics Between nations (just nations?) Within nations • Competing institutions• Competing individuals• Competing interests

If national Security is about poliitcs, then we need to understand how national security decisions are made.

External and

Internal Environment

Structure follows Strategy (in theory)

Alfred Chandler

External Government

Environment strategy and organizational

structure(decision making structure)

Remember strategy is a decision, a political decision

What if the US decides not to react to international developments? Doesn’t care about them Doesn’t see them

US as a weak nationStruggling for independence

US BOOM!!!!

1. Free Market economics Open access for US investment

2. Spreading Democracy (Wilson)

3. Nervousness about Commitments

Wilson vs. US Senate on League of Nations

US Decision to remain a regional power

National Security focus on Economics Anti-communism

US is now the most powerful nation on the globe

What now?

Isolationism /Nationalismvs.

Internationalism

Realism Idealism liberalism

WilsonianismBalance of power Hegemonic realism

1945-1950: Accepts the role of global power

National Interests: To contain communism To build a liberal-democratic world

order To remain the most powerful nation