Thursday, March 22, 2012

What is a book critique of The Sovereignty Solution: A Commonsense Approach to Global Security by Anna Simons, Joe McGraw, and Duane Lauchengco?

The Sovereignty Solution suggests an alternative strategy for achieving national security and maintaining global order without resorting to invasions, nation building, or attempting to spread American ways of life around the world. It is based on the idea that each nation is responsible for its own way of life without interference from others, and that each nation needs to self-police in order to do that. It is based on mutual respect for each other’s sovereignty, with a strong “or else” set of consequences.
The authors outline the ways in which outside interference in other countries’ sovereignty fail. They postulate that financial aid fails because it is pocketed by and benefits those in power rather than helping those in need. Furthermore, they indicate that nation-building from the outside always fails, and that the only helpful thing the US can do is lead by example. They also state that interventions—for example, to combat genocide—also fail because they generate further violence and rebellions.
This book is viewed favorably by those who see it as a long overdue adjustment to the reality of international relations and the embrace of US strengths and abilities vs. interfering in other nations. They cite the expertise of the authors, Anna Simons (Professor of Defense at the Naval Postgraduate School) and Joe McGraw and Duane Lauchengco (both Special Forces officers).
Others see this book as a cold withdrawal from a humanitarian perspective, allowing genocide, atrocities, poverty, and famine to prevail without any response from the US.

No comments:

Post a Comment

What is the theme of the chapter Lead?

Primo Levi's complex probing of the Holocaust, including his survival of Auschwitz and pre- and post-war life, is organized around indiv...