American Grand Strategy in the Age of Trump

The rise of Donald Trump and his America First platform have created uncertainty about America's role in the world, and the geopolitical challenges to U.S. power and influence seem increasingly severe. Hal Brands' book provides sharp yet nuanced assessments of the most critical issues in American grand strategy today, asking questions such as whether America has blundered aimlessly, is in terminal decline, or can maintain its edge in a harsher and more competitive environment. It also explores the impact of Donald Trump's presidency on American internationalism and what type of grand strategy might America pursue in the age of Trump and after.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 256 pages
Publication date: 16 January 2018
Publisher: Brookings Institution

American foreign policy is in a state of upheaval, with the rise of Donald Trump and his America First platform creating more uncertainty about America's role in the world than at any time in recent decades. The geopolitical challenges to U.S. power and influence seem increasingly severe, and America's responses to those challenges seem increasingly unsure. Questions that once had widely accepted answers are now up for debate. What role should the United States play in the world? Can, and should, America continue to pursue an engaged and assertive strategy in global affairs?

In this book, a leading scholar of grand strategy helps to make sense of the headlines and the upheaval by providing sharp yet nuanced assessments of the most critical issues in American grand strategy today. Hal Brands asks, and answers, such questions as:

Has America really blundered aimlessly in the world since the end of the Cold War, or has its grand strategy actually been mostly sensible and effective?

Is America in terminal decline, or can it maintain its edge in a harsher and more competitive environment?

Did the Obama administration pursue a policy of disastrous retrenchment, or did it execute a shrewd grand strategy focused on maximizing U.S. power for the long term?

Does Donald Trump's presidency mean that American internationalism is dead?

What type of grand strategy might America pursue in the age of Trump and after?

What would happen if the United States radically pulled back from the world, as many leading academics—and, at certain moments, the current president—have advocated?

How much military power should the United States maintain in the world?

These are just a few of the questions that Brands addresses in this book, which is a must-read for anyone interested in American foreign policy and the future of the world.

Brands begins by examining the origins of American grand strategy, tracing its development from the early days of the Cold War to the present day. He argues that American grand strategy has been shaped by a combination of factors, including the country's economic and military power, its values and interests, and the international system in which it operates.

One of the key themes of the book is the idea of American exceptionalism. Brands argues that American exceptionalism is a powerful force that has shaped American foreign policy and has helped to make the United States a dominant global power. However, he also argues that American exceptionalism has its limits, and that the United States must be willing to adapt to changing circumstances in the world.

Brands also examines the impact of the Cold War on American grand strategy. He argues that the Cold War was a defining moment in American history, and that it shaped American foreign policy in a number of ways. He argues that the Cold War led to the development of a global security system, which has been a key component of American grand strategy since the end of the Cold War.

However, Brands also argues that the Cold War has had its negative consequences, including the rise of authoritarianism and the erosion of democracy in many parts of the world. He argues that the United States must be willing to confront these challenges and to work to promote democracy and human rights in the world.

In addition to examining the origins and impact of American grand strategy, Brands also examines the current state of American foreign policy. He argues that American foreign policy is in a state of upheaval, with the rise of Donald Trump and his America First platform creating more uncertainty about America's role in the world than at any time in recent decades.

Brands argues that the Trump administration's approach to foreign policy is characterized by a combination of isolationism, nationalism, and protectionism. He argues that these policies are harmful to American interests and to the world, and that the United States must be willing to work to reverse these policies.

Brands also examines the impact of the Trump administration's foreign policy on the international system. He argues that the Trump administration's policies have undermined the global security system, and that the United States must be willing to work to rebuild it.

In conclusion, American foreign policy is in a state of upheaval, with the rise of Donald Trump and his America First platform creating more uncertainty about America's role in the world than at any time in recent decades. Hal Brands' book provides a sharp yet nuanced assessment of the most critical issues in American grand strategy today, and is a must-read for anyone interested in American foreign policy and the future of the world. Brands begins by examining the origins of American grand strategy, tracing its development from the early days of the Cold War to the present day. He argues that American grand strategy has been shaped by a combination of factors, including the country's economic and military power, its values and interests, and the international system in which it operates.

One of the key themes of the book is the idea of American exceptionalism. Brands argues that American exceptionalism is a powerful force that has shaped American foreign policy and has helped to make the United States a dominant global power. However, he also argues that American exceptionalism has its limits, and that the United States must be willing to adapt to changing circumstances in the world.

Brands also examines the impact of the Cold War on American grand strategy. He argues that the Cold War was a defining moment in American history, and that it shaped American foreign policy in a number of ways. He argues that the Cold War led to the development of a global security system, which has been a key component of American grand strategy since the end of the Cold War.

However, Brands also argues that the Cold War has had its negative consequences, including the rise of authoritarianism and the erosion of democracy in many parts of the world. He argues that the United States must be willing to confront these challenges and to work to promote democracy and human rights in the world.

In addition to examining the origins and impact of American grand strategy, Brands also examines the current state of American foreign policy. He argues that American foreign policy is in a state of upheaval, with the rise of Donald Trump and his America First platform creating more uncertainty about America's role in the world than at any time in recent decades.

Brands argues that the Trump administration's approach to foreign policy is characterized by a combination of isolationism, nationalism, and protectionism. He argues that these policies are harmful to American interests and to the world, and that the United States must be willing to work to reverse these policies.

Brands also examines the impact of the Trump administration's foreign policy on the international system. He argues that the Trump administration's policies have undermined the global security system, and that the United States must be willing to work to rebuild it.

In conclusion, American foreign policy is in a state of upheaval, with the rise of Donald Trump and his America First platform creating more uncertainty about America's role in the world than at any time in recent decades. Hal Brands' book provides a sharp yet nuanced assessment of the most critical issues in American grand strategy today, and is a must-read for anyone interested in American foreign policy and the future of the world.

Weight: 342g
Dimension: 141 x 215 x 16 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780815732785