This book analyzes the transformations and consistencies of American leadership during the past few years and situates recent American foreign policy in a longer time frame, following the 2020 presidential election and after a full year of the Biden Administration. This longer and broader view by European and American academics and experts considers both shifting American policies, notably during Trump's presidency, and underlying trends that have often gone ignored compared to the more dramatic antics of the 45th president. It helps decode recent American policy and permits us to consider possible new directions and likely continuities under Democratic leadership.
Author(s): Michael Stricof; Isabelle Vagnoux (redactors)
Year: 2022
Language: English
Commentary: U.S. Leadership in Uncetaiinless times
Pages: 352
Tags: U.S. Leadership in Uncetaiinless times
Contents
Notes on Contributors
List of Figures
1 Introduction
References
2 Liberal Internationalism and U.S. Leadership
Notes
References
3 “We Will Remain a Pacific Power”: America’s Self-Proclaimed Destiny in the Asia–Pacific Region
The Failure of Non-Military Stabilization, 1900–1941
From World War to Cold War, 1941–1989
The Post-Cold War Era
References
4 The United States and the Middle East: Playing Alice in Wonderland’s Croquet Game
The Fall of the Ottoman Empire
Oil and U.S. Re-Engagement
Growing Complexities: Decolonization, the Cold War and the New Assertiveness of Oil Producers
Islamism and the Iranian Revolution
The Delusion of Unipolarism
The Arrogance of Power2
Learning a New Game
Notes
References
5 What is Left of U.S. Leadership in the Americas?
From “Beneath the United States” to “Partnership”
Security Concerns
Challenges to Democracy
From the Mantra of Economic Liberalism to Competition for Economic Leadership
Still a Force of Attraction and Influence
Conclusion
Notes
References
6 Fiscal and Monetary Policy and U.S. Leadership: A Historical Perspective
Introduction
The Post-World War II Era: Assumed Hegemony
American Exceptionalism After the Second World War
The Fordist Production Paradigm, a Vector for Unprecedented Prosperity
“Fine-Tuning” Fiscal and Monetary Policies Stabilized This New Regime
A Benevolent Hegemon
The Economic Sources of Hegemony Progressively Transform
The End of Fordism‚ Competition and Internationalization: A Major Break in the Economic System
Renewed Confidence in the Dollar Leads to Wall Street Becoming the Center of Global Financial Intermediation
The Budget Socialized the Losses of the 2008 Financial Crisis and Those Linked to Covid-19
Strengths and Weaknesses of American Leadership in the 2020s
How to Get Out of Quantitative Easing?
Difficulty Curbing Inflation by Monetary Policy Alone
An Unexpected Asset: Energy Autonomy
In an Uncertain and Conflict-Ridden World, the Dollar Remains a Safe Haven
Fragilized Leadership
Conclusion
References
7 Competing for Leadership: Europe’s Choices in the Sino-American Geo-Economic Rivalry
America’s New Sputnik Moment
China’s Mercantilism
America’s “Managed Trade”
Energy “Dominance”: Control of Energy Flows
Knowledge is Power: Controlling Information Flows
Europe’s Sovereignty at Stake
Conclusion
References
8 Technological Leader, Regulatory Laggard? Washington and the Shifting Governance of Digital Trade
From Statistics to Geopolitics
“This is not Industrial Policy”: the Emergence of America’s Digital Trade Strategy
Regulatory (Dis)inclinations: Embattled Leadership
Digital Services Taxes
Antitrust Policies
Conclusion
Notes
References
9 The Limitations of U.S. Climate Leadership: A Realist Perspective
Fundamental Realist Principles and Climate Diplomacy
The Primacy of Economic Growth and National Prosperity
Defending U.S. National Sovereignty
Nationalism and Mutual Trust
Conclusion
References
10 Who Recognizes? U.S. Nuclear Diplomacy and the Conferral of Legitimacy
Hierarchical Recognition in the Postwar Era
Case Studies
India and the “123 Agreement”
Iran and the JCPOA
Recognition and the Rise of China
Conclusion
Notes
References
11 Defining Strategy and Maintaining Allies for Great Power Competition: Independent Leadership in the Department of Defense
Introduction: The Military and U.S. Leadership
Consistent Defense Policy from Obama to Trump to Biden
Independent DoD Diplomacy in Europe
Limitations of Militarized Foreign Policy
Conclusion: The Militarization of American Leadership
Notes
References
12 Prepping for Long-Term Competition? U.S. Leadership in Cyberspace from Trump to Biden
The Quest for Operational Dominance and Political Leadership in Cyberspace
Rebuilding the Foundations of Power and Leadership
Rivalry in Digital Technology Leadership as a Central Element of the Competition with China
The Rise of the Chinese Digital Threat
The Digital Containment of China
Disentangling Digital Technologies: A Fragmentation of Cyberspace?
Conclusion
Notes
References
Index
