Shields of the Republic: The Triumph and Peril of America’s Alliances

Rapp-Hooper's book "The Alliance System: Why It Hasn't Failed and Why It Matters" argues that alliances are not worth the investment and have led the nation to fight other peoples battles for them. However, the threat of COVID-19 has bolstered her argument, making plain both the importance of the alliance system and the imperative to adapt alliances to new ends. Mira Rapp-Hooper's book provides rock-solid evidence to demonstrate what policymakers have long believed: that Americas alliances are a remarkably effective foreign policy tool.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 272 pages
Publication date: 01 April 2023
Publisher: Harvard University Press

The United States has a long history of alliances, dating back to its founding in 1776. For the first 150 years of its existence, the country maintained a single alliance, a valuable but highly controversial military arrangement with France. However, the Second World War marked a significant shift in the country's alliance policy. Between 1948 and 1955, the United States extended defensive security guarantees to twenty-three countries in Europe and Asia, known as the NATO alliance. Seventy years later, the United States is allied with thirty-seven countries.

Today, the alliance system faces threats from both within and without. China and Russia seek to break Americas alliances through conflict and non-military erosion, while US politicians and voters, skeptical of costs, believe we may be better off without them. However, Mira Rapp-Hooper argues that the alliance system is a victim of its own quiet success.

Rapp-Hooper takes on directly and convincingly the Trumpian critique that alliances are not worth the investment and have led the nation to fight other peoples battles for them. Her deep erudition, crisp prose style, and innate brilliance shine through on most every page.

The threat of COVID-19 has bolstered her argument, making plain both the importance of the alliance system and the imperative to adapt alliances to new ends. Rapp-Hooper argues that the alliance system has been a remarkably effective foreign policy tool, helping to keep the peace throughout the Cold War and beyond.

Musters rock-solid evidence to demonstrate what policymakers have long believed: that Americas alliances are a remarkably effective foreign policy tool. Rapp-Hooper argues that the alliance system has helped to deter conflict, promote stability, and advance shared interests.

Argues persuasively that the complex alliance system instituted after the devastation of World War II has proven remarkably successful. Rapp-Hooper argues that the alliance system has helped to keep the peace throughout the Cold War and beyond, and that it is still a vital tool for promoting stability and security in the world today.

In conclusion, Mira Rapp-Hooper's book is a must-read for anyone interested in foreign policy and the history of the alliance system. Her deep erudition, crisp prose style, and innate brilliance shine through on most every page, and her argument is compelling and well-supported by evidence. The threat of COVID-19 has bolstered her argument, making plain both the importance of the alliance system and the imperative to adapt alliances to new ends. Rapp-Hooper's book is a valuable contribution to the ongoing debate about the future of the alliance system and the role of the United States in the world.

Dimension: 210 x 140 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780674292161