Citation

Nye JS. Am. Behav. Sci. 2008; 51(9): 1351-1356.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2008, SAGE Publishing)

DOI

10.1177/0002764208316228

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Reconciling values and interests is a long-standing problem in American foreign policy. Amitai Etzioni's Security First is a welcome corrective to the truncated Wilsonianism of recent neo-conservative doctrines. His proposed combination of hard and soft power deals primarily with two of the major challenges that America faces: nuclear spread and Islamist extremism. His approach says less about one traditional challenge--the rise of China--and two new ones--an energy crisis or an ecological breakdown (such as pandemics or dramatic climate change). And even in regard to the first two issues, some argue that the doctrine of containment remains a viable alternative.