Shouldn T Be Underestimated

Robert Kagan’s article “The Importance of U.S. Military Might Shouldn’t be Underestimated” examines whether or not implementing defense cuts is beneficial to the United States’ (U.S.) national interests. He argues that decreasing defense spending is not in the U.S.’s national interests. The United States uses military force to spread democracy around the world, to uphold the international system, and to maintain U.S.’s power and influence. The author fears that the defense budget reductions will lead to a decreased U.S.’s capacity to maintain a stable international order and a reduction of U.S. power relative to other countries power. Within the author’s central argument, one can find elements of international relations theory:

International order in this article is another word for international society, a key concept of idealism. He explores how the spread of democracy aided the construction of an international society. America’s support for democracy worldwide and its ability to protect people from dictators allowed for the global democratization. (1-2) Democratization is part of the democratic peace theory, which states that democratic states will not fight against each other. Thus, encouraging democratic movements abroad will only benefit the United States by decreasing the number of openly hostile nations. The use of military power behind the U.S. democratic encouragement is essential and it cannot be reduced. Democratization helped contribute to the construction of a peaceful international society and it would not be in the U.S. interests to reduce the means the United States uses to encourage democracy. Military power helps contribute to the international order because it also helps the economic power. The use of military force upholds economic security for other nations. U.S. military power upholds economic rules around the world such as keeping trade routes open. Thus, decreasing military spending will decrease the stability of the world order. Kagan emphasizes idealist terms, such as international order and democratization,

He begins by stating, “The international system is not static. It responds quickly to fluctuations in power.” (2) If the United States cuts its defense spending, other nations influence will rise while U.S. power declines. Thus, a new balance of power and sphere of influence will emerge in areas of the world. (2) Thus, it is against the U.S. interests to cut the defense spending because it will increase other countries’ influence in the world in comparison to ours. Kagan concludes the article that the U.S. no longer can provide security for the world, other nations may begin to look elsewhere for support, which erodes U.S. power (3). Thus, the United States cannot decrease the defense budget because other nations can move in and become more influential in other countries eyes. The realist theory of power rivalry is prevalent in Kagan’s argument of why decreasing the defense spending is a terrible