Paper Tiger: The Enemy Image of America

Abstract For almost a century, enemies have tended to see the United States as a ‘paper tiger’ that is materially strong but also beatable in war because Americans have no stomach for the fight. Adversaries recognise US industrial and technological might but conclude that because the American public is casualty averse and US soldiers have weak morale, they can overcome the Americans with a long-war strategy. Four factors are likely to play a role in encouraging states to view the US in this way: rhetoric, rationalism, psychology and ideology. The paper-tiger image is significant because it can influence both the enemy’s decision to fight and its strategy, and offers insights into emerging threats, including that from China.