Text Browser Navigation Bar: Main Site Navigation and Search | Current Page Navigation | Current Page Content
U.S. Army War College >> Strategic Studies Institute >> Publications >> From the New Middle Ages to a New Dark Age: The Decline of the State and U.S. Strategy
U.S. Army War College >> Strategic Studies Institute >> Publications >> Details
Authored by Dr. Phil Williams.
Security and stability in the 21st century have little to do with traditional power politics, military conflict between states, and issues of grand strategy. Instead they revolve around the disruptive consequences of globalization, declining governance, inequality, urbanization, and nonstate violent actors. The author explores the implications of these issues for the United States. He proposes a rejection of “stateocentric” assumptions and an embrace of the notion of the New Middle Ages characterized, among other things, by competing structures, fragmented authority, and the rise of “no-go” zones. He also suggests that the world could tip into a New Dark Age. He identifies three major options for the United States in responding to such a development. The author argues that for interventions to have any chance of success the United States will have to move to a trans-agency approach. But even this might not be sufficient to stanch the chaos and prevent the continuing decline of the Westphalian state.
The Future of American Landpower: Does Forward Presence Still Matter? The Case of the Army in Europe
Lead Me, Follow Me, Or Get Out of My Way: Rethinking and Refining the Civil-Military Relationship
The Prospects for Security Sector Reform in Tunisia: A Year After the Revolution
Drug Trafficking, Violence, and Instability
Criminals, Militias, and Insurgents: Organized Crime in Iraq
Era of Persistent Conflict
Homeland Security and Defense
Military Strategy and Policy
Global Strategy
National Security Strategy