Implementing restraint : changes in U.S. regional security policies to operationalize a realist grand strategy of restraint / Miranda Priebe, Bryan Rooney, Nathan Beauchamp-Mustafaga, Jeffrey Martini, Stephanie Pezard.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Priebe, Miranda, author.

Rooney, Bryan A., author.

Beauchamp-Mustafaga, Nathan, author.

Martini, Jeffrey, author.

Pézard, Stéphanie, author.

Contributor:

Rand Corporation. National Security Research Division.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Security, International.

National security--United States.

National security.

Diplomatic relations.

Military policy.

United States--Foreign relations--21st century.

United States.

United States--Military policy.

Other Title:

Implementing Restraint

Place of Publication:

Santa Monica, Calif. RAND Corporation 2021

Summary:

The United States is facing several national security challenges at the same time that the federal budget is under pressure because of public health and infrastructure crises. In response to these challenges, there has been growing public interest in rethinking the U.S. role in the world. Under one option, a realist grand strategy of restraint, the United States would adopt a more cooperative approach toward other powers, reduce the size of its military and forward military presence, and end or renegotiate some of its security commitments. To help U.S. policymakers and the public understand this option, the authors of this report explain how U.S. security policies toward key regions would change under a grand strategy of restraint, identify key unanswered questions, and propose next steps for developing the policy implications of this option. The authors find that regional policy under a grand strategy of restraint varies depending on the level of U.S. interests and the risk that a single powerful state could dominate the region. Because of China's significant military capabilities, advocates of restraint call for a greater U.S. military role in East Asia than in other regions. The authors recommend that advocates of a grand strategy of restraint should continue to develop their policy recommendations. In particular, they should identify what changes in great-power capabilities and behavior would imperil U.S. vital interests, maritime areas where the United States should retain superiority, priorities for peacetime military activities, and war scenarios that should guide U.S. Department of Defense planning.