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As the only superpower left standing after the Cold War, America exercises global dominance. Yet, the September 11 attack showed us that we are not immune to the world's problems. Powerful and prosperous, yet not universally liked, Americans are no longer certain about their security in the twenty-first century. This issue book presents four perspectives on the questions of what kind of world we want our children and grandchildren to live in and what we will have to do to achieve it.
Approach One: Preserving and Sharing Global Resources
In the long run, our security will depend on whether we can keep "lifeboat earth" afloat. The developed world continues to use up scarce natural resources, while increasing poverty in the poor countries has led to deforestation, scarce drinking water, and the global spread of disease. As populations grow, these problems, which threaten all of us, will only get worse. To ensure a secure future, we must do more to support international collaboration and give up wasteful lifestyles.
Approach Two: Seeking Security through Free Trade
Persistent poverty is the cause of much of the unrest that fuels hatred of the U.S. around the world. In this view, economic growth through free trade is the answer. Wherever trade has substantially expanded, economic, political, and social conditions have improved as well. Prosperous nations do not threaten our safety. The surest path to our security is broad equitable growth in other countries.
Approach Three: Promoting Democratization and Human Rights
Our security will be enhanced by the spread of democratic values and practices that will bring stability to other nations in the world. Democracies, for the most part, do not go to war with one another and do not support the kind of terrorist organizations that pose a major threat to our security today. To promote democratization and the spread of human rights, we must increase foreign aid and support nonprofit programs that strengthen citizen participation and democratization.
Approach Four: Using Military Power to Secure the Peace
Only America has the military power to keep destructive forces in check and ensure international stability. We cannot afford to wait decades for the kind of stable, democratic prosperous world we would all like. We should use military power, when necessary, to deal with threats to our own security and to world peace. If others will not act with us to this end, then the U.S. should act unilaterally.
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