Political and Socio-Economic Change: Revolutions and Their Implications for the U.S. Military

Significant political, economic, and social change can dramatically impact the international security environment and hence U.S. security. For example, the revolutions that have unfolded across the Middle East and North Africa over the last several years have impacted American interests such as the security of Israel and the spread of democracy. Likewise, the less "revolutionary" but equally impactful changes that have unfolded across Latin America over the last 15 years have affected American interests such as free and open trade and access to reliable energy sources. In response to these changes, American leaders will wield diplomacy, development, and defense tools to safeguard U.S. interests and to fulfill broader policy objectives. Whether and how those leaders choose to wield Landpower-a critically important element of the defense toolbox-is subject to significant debate these days in light of sequestration's continuing impact and the post-war drawdown impacting the U.S. Army in particular.