Pivotal States and U.S. Strategy

Half a decade after the collapse of the Soviet Union, American policymakers and intellectuals are still seeking new principles on which to base national strategy. The current debate over the future of the international order?including predictions of the end of history, a clash of civilizations, a coming anarchy, or a borderless world?has failed to generate agreement on what shape U.S. policy should take. However, a single overarching framework may be inap propriate for understanding today's disorderly and decentralized world. Americas security no longer hangs on the success or failure of containing communism. The challenges are more diffuse and numer ous. As a priority, the United States must manage its delicate rela tionships with Europe, Japan, Russia, and China, the other major players in world affairs. However, Americas national interest also re quires stability in important parts of the developing world. Despite congressional pressure to reduce or eliminate overseas assistance, it is vital that America focus its efforts on a small number of countries