Security First: For a Muscular, Moral Foreign PolicyYale University Press, 2008 M10 1 - 336 pages “Rarely have more profound changes in American foreign policy been called for than today,” begins Amitai Etzioni in the preface to this book. Yet Etzioni’s concern is not to lay blame for past mistakes but to address the future: What can now be done to improve U.S. relations with the rest of the world? What should American policies be toward recently liberated countries such as Iraq and Afghanistan, or rogue states like North Korea and Iran? When should the United States undertake humanitarian intervention abroad? What must be done to protect America from nuclear terrorism? The author asserts that providing basic security must be the first priority in all foreign policy considerations, even ahead of efforts to democratize. He sets out essential guidelines for a foreign policy that makes sense in the real world, builds on moral principles, and creates the possibility of establishing positive relationships with Muslim nations and all others. Etzioni has considered the issues deeply and for many years. His conclusions fall into no neat categories—neither “liberal” nor “conservative”—for he is guided not by ideology but by empirical evidence and moral deliberation. His proposal rings with the sound of reason, and this important book belongs on the reading list of every concerned leader, policy maker, and voter in America. |
Contents
| 1 | |
| 37 | |
The True Fault Line Warriors vs Preachers | 85 |
The Importance of Moral Culture | 152 |
Grounds for Intervention | 193 |
Security Requires a New Global Architecture | 208 |
Notes | 249 |
Acknowledgments | 295 |
Index | 297 |
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Affairs Afghan Afghanistan allies American argue attacks authoritarian basic security belief systems bombs Bush Christian civil coercion constitution countries democratic deproliferation economic elections especially ethnic extremists failing faith fault line favor follow force freedom funds Gandhi genocide global groups Gush Emunim Hence Hindu Hinduism human rights Ibid Illiberal Moderates institutions intervention Iran Iraq Iraq and Afghanistan Iraq's Iraqi Islam Islamists Israel jihad Kosovo leaders legitimate liberal democracy Libya major materials ment million moral culture Muslim nation-building Neo-Cons nonviolent North Korea nuclear arms Nuclear Terrorism nuclear weapons Pakistan peace percent persuasion political polls prevent priority programs promote reactors reconstruction Reform regime change religion religious responsibility rogue role Russia schools secular seek Serbia shariah social engineering society sovereignty Taliban terrorists threat tion U.S. foreign policy United Nations University Press USAID violence Warriors Washington Post York