Hard Look at Hard Power: Assessing the Defense Capabilities of Key U.S. Allies and Security Partners: Assessing the Defense Capabilities of Key U.S. Allies and Security Partners

Since World War Ii, a key element of America's grand strategy has been its worldwide network of strategic allies and partners. The network has provided the United States an invaluable global presence, enhanced deterrence against adversaries and, when called upon, provided men and materiel to help fight wars. However, following the end of the Cold War, less attention has been paid to America's allies, especially their "hard power" capabilities, despite the United States and its allies going to war more frequently than before. This volume addresses that gap, providing a holistic account of allied hard power and, in turn, the ability – and, indirectly, the willingness – of those same partners to use force independently or in concert with the United States and other allies. The primary audience for this book is military strategists, including command leadership, soldiers and policymakers plus Nato and non-governmental organization personnel may also have an interest in this work.

ABOUT THE CONTRIBUTORS

BRUCE E. BECHTOL, JR., is an associate professor of political science at Angelo State University.

PAUL CORNISH is professor of strategic studies in the Strategy & Security Institute at the University of Exeter.

DOROTHÉE FOUCHAUX is a French defense analyst who has worked at the European Society of Strategic Intelligence and the French Ministry of Defence, Del-egation for Strategic Affairs, as a research officer.

CRAIG FRANKLIN served in the U.S. Air Force for more than 3 decades before retiring in April 2014. His last position was commander of the 3rd Air Force and 17th Expeditionary Air Force, Ramstein Air Base, Germany. Before that, he was vice director of the Joint Staff at the Pentagon.

PATRICK KELLER is the coordinator of foreign and security policy at the Konrad Adenauer Foundation in Berlin, Germany.

GUILLAUME LASCONJARIAS is a research adviser at the NATO Defense College.

MICHAEL MAZZA is a research fellow in foreign and defense policy studies at AEI.

BRYAN MCGRATH is the managing director of the FerryBridge Group (a defense consultancy) and is a former officer of the U.S. Navy.382

ANDREW A. MICHTA is the M. W. Buckman Pro-fessor of International Studies at Rhodes College and a senior fellow at the Center for European Policy Analysis in Washington, DC.

GARY J. SCHMITT is co-director of the Marilyn Ware Center for Security Studies, the American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy, Washington, DC.

ANDREW SHEARER is a senior official in the State Government of Victoria's Department of Premier and Cabinet.

W. BRUCE WEINROD served as the U.S. Secretary of Defense's representative for Europe and as defense adviser to the U.S. mission at NATO from 2007 to 2009. He was Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for European and NATO policy from 1989 to 1993.

TOSHI YOSHIHARA is the John A. van Beuren Chair of Asia-Pacific Studies at the U.S. Naval War College.