TPI Replay: The Case for Liberal Realism, With Charles A. Kupchan
Dec 24, 2024
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Charles A. Kupchan, a senior fellow at CFR and Georgetown University professor, shares insights on U.S. foreign policy amidst great power competition. He discusses the vital role of grand strategy in navigating a dynamic global landscape. Kupchan contrasts traditional and liberal realism, focusing on the intricate balance of power and domestic politics. He examines the U.S.'s evolution from isolationism to liberal internationalism and the challenges of operating in a multipolar world, advocating for a pragmatic approach that embraces both competition and cooperation.
Grand strategy serves as a crucial intellectual framework for navigating international relations, balancing strategic goals with the means to achieve them.
Liberal realism emphasizes the importance of both competition and cooperation among great powers, advocating for a nuanced approach to foreign policy.
Deep dives
Understanding Grand Strategy
Grand strategy is defined as the intellectual framework that policymakers utilize to guide their statecraft decisions, balancing strategic ends with available means. It serves as an essential blueprint that helps navigate the complexities of international relations, particularly during crises. The discussion underscores the necessity of having foundational principles to avoid reckless decision-making, emphasizing the historical value of studying past events to inform current strategies. However, a cautionary note is raised against adhering too rigidly to one strategy, as flexibility is crucial in a rapidly changing global environment.
Liberal Realism in Foreign Policy
The concept of liberal realism combines traditional power dynamics with a recognition that international cooperation can lead to peace, contrary to the purely competitive view of realism. This perspective acknowledges that while competition among great powers is inevitable, there are historical instances where relationships, such as that between the U.S. and Canada, have succeeded without conflict. It stresses that understanding the interplay of domestic politics and global relations is vital for effective foreign policy, as ideological divides within the U.S. influence its international stance. Thus, liberal realism promotes a nuanced approach to navigating a world of competing powers by seeking both competition and cooperation.
Navigating Multipolarity
The U.S. is transitioning into an era of multipolarity, characterized by the rise of other economic powers such as China and India, requiring a shift in grand strategy. This new landscape demands that the U.S. engages in diplomatic efforts to understand and attract countries in the global South, recognizing their complex positions and interests. The discussion emphasizes the need for the U.S. to build coalitions that consider the aspirations of these nations rather than imposing an outdated worldview based solely on American interests. Achieving a cohesive grand strategy will depend on addressing internal divisions within the U.S. and effectively competing while also cooperating with other major powers.
Charles A. Kupchan, a senior fellow at CFR and a professor of international affairs at Georgetown University, sits down with James M. Lindsay to discuss how the United States should adapt to an era of renewed great power competition and domestic disagreement over what it should seek to achieve abroad. This episode is the third in a special TPI series on U.S. grand strategy.