First published 1994
The Soviet Union has collapsed, but the world has not become safer. Richard Haass confronts the new reality where conflicts multiply across the globe and unconventional weapons spread to dangerous actors. He examines how thinking about military force has changed from medieval times through the present, accounting for new technologies and evolving concepts of sovereignty. Haass analyzes twelve recent cases including the Gulf War, Bosnia, Somalia, Panama, Grenada, and Haiti to develop practical guidelines for American military intervention. He covers scenarios from peacekeeping missions to full warfare, then applies his framework to assess how past operations might have unfolded differently. The author looks ahead to potential flashpoints in the Persian Gulf, Korean Peninsula, and Eastern Europe where American interests may require military action. He outlines the political and military costs of such commitments and proposes how responsibilities should be divided between the United States, NATO, and the United Nations.
Genres: history, political-science, non-fiction, military-history, academic, american-history
Vibes: suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: gritty
Setting: Persian Gulf, Korean Peninsula, Eastern Europe
Period: Soviet Union Collapse
258 pages · Paperback · Brookings Inst Pr