Author: Colin S. Gray

Publisher: Army War College Strategic Studies Institute

Published: 2009

Total Pages: 104

ISBN-13:

A sustainable national security strategy is feasible only when directed by a sustainable national security policy. In the absence of policy guidance, strategy has to be meaningless. The only policy that meets both the mandates of American culture and the challenges of the outside world is one that seeks to promote the necessary mission of guarding and advancing world order. Dr. Colin Gray considers and rejects a policy that would encourage the emergence of a multipolar structure for global politics. He argues that multipolarity not only would fail to maintain order, it would also promote conflict among the inevitably rival great powers. In addition, he suggests that Americans culturally are not comfortable with balance of power politics and certainly would not choose to promote the return of such a system. The monograph identifies the various "pieces of the puzzle" most relevant to national security strategy; surfaces the leading assumptions held by American policymakers and strategists; considers alternative national security policies; and specifies the national security strategy. Dr. Gray concludes that America has much less choice over its policy and strategy than the public debate suggests. He warns that the country's dominant leadership role in global security certainly will be challenged before the century is old.--p. iii.