Book Review -- Foreign Policy Begins at Home: The Case for Putting America's House in Order

Foreign Policy Begins at Home: The Case for Putting America's House in Order Richard N. Haass New York: Basic Books, 2013, 208 pp. For the better part of a decade, the United States has been mired in mediocrity, settling for what feels like a new normal of low economic growth, stagnant wages, political intransigence, and an unending war or terror. Many think America's better days are behind it. Richard Haass, the president of the Council on Foreign Relations, disagrees. In Foreign Policy Begins at Home, Haass attempts to reverse American defeatism and assuage fears of American decline, arguing instead that the United States is simply underperforming, suffering from "American made" problems that can be corrected by restoring the "foundations of its power." He explains that America's true strength abroad comes from its strength at home, and if America is to provide global leadership it "must first put its house in order." While much of Foreign Policy focuses on policy prescriptions that would restore American strength, the true contribution of the book is its explanation of why such a strategy is needed. Haass uses the opening chapters to convince readers that American leadership abroad is essential because, to Haass, it is the only option. Only America has the "capacity, habits, and willingness" necessary to lead in a nonpolar world in which the "potential for disorder is considerable." Other nations lack the ability, the desire, or both, to do so. While Haass overstates the looming dangers of a nonpolar world, he correctly describes it as a forgiving place from America's perspective. Even after two prolonged "wars of choice," an economic crisis, and poor leadership and mismanagement from Washington, the United States holds considerable advantages over other nations: the strongest military, the largest economy, a stable political system, a commitment to the rule of law, and an abundance of natural resources--to name a few. And when you consider the difficulties facing other nations--the frailty of China's economy and political system, Russia's dependence on petrodollars, Europe's general economic malaise and disjointed structure, Japan's aging population, and India's corruption and lack of critical infrastructure--it is clear that a direct challenge to America is unlikely. Haass is correct, the United States faces no existential threats. The countries often cited as potential rivals to America are more concerned with internal issues, and they currently lack the ability to project power over great distances. Moreover, according to Haass, those countries are dependent on the international system for their own well-being and are therefore "disinclined to attempt to disrupt an order that serves their national purposes." Thus, Haass asserts, America has the space to fix what ails it, and it should take advantage of the opportunity to revamp both its domestic and foreign policy strategies because "changing just one would be desirable but insufficient." America must rebuild at home and refocus abroad, a strategy Haass calls "restoration." For Haass, a foreign policy of restoration would require America to be much more restrained in how it acts abroad, relying more on diplomatic and economic means to influence others rather than military means. America would avoid nation building, wars of choice, and would focus its resources on areas where U.S. interests are most vital--namely, the Asia-Pacific and the Western Hemisphere (and away from the Middle East). It would work with others to promote trade and foreign investment, fight terrorism, and deal with issues emanating from weak states. And it would largely disavow faux doctrines of democracy promotion, humanitarianism, and counterterrorism, instead taking on such missions only when costs are low and probability of success is high. Some of Haass's other foreign policy suggestions, however, seem to be at odds with his wise prescription of restraint. …