America's Great-Power Opportunity: Revitalizing U.S. Foreign Policy to Meet the Challenges of Strategic Competition

The US foreign policy must adapt to the era of renewed "great-power competition" from China and Russia, which could render it defensive and reactive. Ali Wyne offers a critique of this framework and exhorts Washington to find a middle ground between complacence and consternation, selectively contesting Beijing and Moscow while renewing itself at home and abroad.

Format: Hardback
Length: 224 pages
Publication date: 28 April 2022
Publisher: Polity Press

The notion that U.S. foreign policy must adapt to a period of revitalized "great-power competition" has gained widespread acceptance. Following the Cold War, the United States embarked on a strategic deviation that lasted for a quarter-century, reveling in triumphalism and becoming entangled in the Middle East. Presently, China and Russia are mounting assertive challenges to its influence and undermining the order it has established since 1945. How should the United States respond to these formidable authoritarian powers?

In this insightful analysis, Ali Wyne provides the first comprehensive critique of great-power competition as a foreign policy framework. He cautions that adopting this approach may lead the United States to adopt a defensive and reactive stance. Wyne urges Washington to strike a balance between complacency and apprehension, selectively challenging Beijing and Moscow while avoiding allowing their decisions to dictate its own course. By examining a resurgent China, a disruptive Russia, and a deepening Sino-Russian alliance, Wyne elucidates how the United States can seize the opportunity presented by great-power competition: to confidently manage all three phenomena while simultaneously renewing itself domestically and internationally.

The United States has historically been the preeminent global power, exerting influence and shaping international affairs for decades. However, the rise of China and Russia as formidable authoritarian powers has challenged this dominance. China, with its rapidly expanding economy, military capabilities, and global reach, has become a major economic and political rival to the United States. Russia, with its vast resources, military might, and political influence in regions such as Eastern Europe and the Middle East, has also sought to assert its influence on the global stage.

The United States must navigate these challenges carefully to maintain its position as a global leader. One approach is to engage in constructive dialogue and cooperation with China and Russia to address shared interests and challenges. This can include areas such as climate change, trade, and regional security. By building relationships and finding common ground, the United States can work to mitigate tensions and promote stability in the global system.

However, the United States must also be prepared to confront and challenge the actions of China and Russia when they violate international norms and principles. This can include economic sanctions, military interventions, and diplomatic pressure. The United States must be willing to use its military and economic power to defend its interests and promote a rules-based international order.

Another critical aspect of U.S. foreign policy in the era of great-power competition is the need to renew itself domestically and internationally. This can include investing in education, infrastructure, and innovation to improve the country's economic and social well-being. It can also involve engaging in foreign policy that promotes human rights, democracy, and human rights around the world. By demonstrating its commitment to these values, the United States can strengthen its position as a global leader and inspire others to follow suit.

In conclusion, the era of great-power competition presents the United States with significant challenges and opportunities. By adapting its foreign policy to the changing global landscape, engaging in constructive dialogue and cooperation, confronting and challenging authoritarian powers, and renewing itself domestically and internationally, the United States can maintain its position as a global leader and promote a more peaceful and prosperous world.

Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781509545537