Tag: Great Power Competition

Bad Idea: Investing for the New Cold War and Forgetting the “Boiling Peace”

The release of the next National Defense Strategy, expected in early 2022, will address the continued importance of China as a “pacing threat” even as it recognizes the “increasingly complicated and complex security landscape.” As the renewed potential for great power conflict drives strategy and plans, some have dubbed this a “new Cold War.” Letting this planning construct drive DoD’s investment program without paying attention to other kinds of potential contingencies is a bad idea.

Analysis / Strategy

Moving Beyond “China, China, China” in the Indo-Pacific

The Biden administration is signaling the United States will return to a more traditional foreign policy in Asia. But it must engage allies and partners on more than just defense policy.

Opinion / Strategy

Bad Idea: Dismissing Russia as a Declining Power in U.S. Strategy

Russia has been dismissed as a declining by some policymakers and analysts who prefer to focus on competition with China. Yet Russia remains one of the most assertive and powerful states in the international system and ignoring the threat it poses is a strategic error.

Opinion / Strategy

Bad Idea: Conflating Great Power Competition with High-Intensity Conflict

DoD should not make the mistake of preparing for “great power competition” by investing only in high-intensity capabilities. While the U.S. should indeed be prepared for direct conflict, much of the fighting will be conducted through irregular warfare operations.

Opinion / Strategy

Bad Idea: Fearing Power Vacuums

Justifying ongoing U.S. military occupations by warning that China or Russia will stand to benefit from the ensuing power vacuum is illogical. There are a number of reasons to think that adversaries will struggle to gain meaningful influence following a U.S. withdrawal.

Opinion / Strategy

Bad Idea: Prioritizing STEM Education at the Expense of Civic Education

Since the launch of Sputnik during the Cold War, the United States has prioritized STEM education in an effort to grow and maintain a competitive edge — often at the expense of civic education. However, U.S. national security also depends on Americans’ understanding of and commitment to our democratic institutions.

Opinion / Strategy

Bad Idea: “Great Power Competition” Terminology

The 2018 National Defense Strategy called out the “reemergence of long-term, strategic competition.” While this was a smart shift in focus, the widely used “great power competition” is the wrong term to describe this new priority.