US Defense Politics

Description

This new textbook seeks to explain how US defense and national security policy is formulated and conducted. The focus is on the role of the President, Congress, political partisans, defense industries, lobbies, science, the media, and interest groups, including the military itself, in shaping policies. It examines the following key themes:

• US grand strategy;
• who joins America's military;
• how and why weapons are bought;
• the management of defense;
• public attitudes toward the military and casualties;
• the roles of the President and the Congress in controlling the military;
• the effects of 9/11 on security policy, homeland security, government reorganizations, and intra- and inter-service relations.

The book shows how political and organizational interests determine US defense policy, and warns against the introduction of centralising reforms. In emphasizing the process of defense policy-making, rather than just the outcomes of that process, this book signals a departure from the style of many existing textbooks.

Contents

Preface Chapter 1: Introduction A Short History. Enduring Questions Chapter 2: America’s Security Strategy American Power. Dilemmas of American Grand Strategy. Post-Cold War Grand Strategy Alternatives. Constraints on American Security Policy. The American Way of Warfare Chapter 3: Who Fights America’s Wars? The Different Systems. The Guard and Reserves. Who Volunteers Unanticipated Consequences of the AVF. Socializing the Force Chapter 4: The Military and National Politics Not Above Politics Anymore. Soldiers’ Personal Politics. Partisan National Security Policy? Resisting Control. The Goldwater-Nichols Reform. Civilians Push Back. Controlling Professionals Chapter 5: The Political Economy of Defense The Defense Budget. Replacing Public Arsenals with Private Firms. How Private Arsenals Work. A Cyclical Business. Regulation, Not Industrial Policy. The Strangest of Customers Chapter 6: The Weapons Acquisition Process The Weapons Acquisition Scorecard. Two Types of Uncertainty. Seeking Reform. Making It Worse. Making It Work Chapter 7: Managing Defense Management under Constraints. Managing To Do What? Robert Strange McNamara. Donald Rumsfeld. Managing the Un-Manageable Chapter 8: Service Politics The U.S. Marine Corps. The U.S. Army. The U.S. Navy. The U.S. Air Force. The U.S. Special Operations Command. Jointness Chapter 9: Congress, Special Interests, and the President Little Interest in Oversight. Super-Special Interests as "Cargo Cults". Presidents React to Opportunities. The Politics of National Security Policymaking Chapter 10: Homeland Security Recognizing Threats to the Homeland. Don’t Just Stand There, Reorganize! More Planning, Please. Rise of the First Responders. WMD Chapter 11: Preparing for the Next War Markets versus Planning. Public versus Private. Experts versus Politics. Centralization versus Decentralization. Hail Confusion and Indecision. Glossary

Author Bio

Harvey M. Sapolsky is Professor of Public Policy and Organization in the Department of Political Science, MIT, and former Director of the MIT Security Studies Program.

Eugene Gholz is Associate Professor at the LBJ School of Public Affairs, University of Texas at Austin.

Caitlin Talmadge is a PhD candidate in the Department of Political Science, MIT.

Related Subjects

1. American Studies
2. Public Administration & Management
3. Public Policy
4. Security Studies - Pol & Intl Relns
5. War & Conflict Studies
6. American Politics
7. Defence Studies
8. Security Studies - Military & Strategic
9. Strategic Studies