America’s Role in the World: A Congressional Perspective

Abstract

Successful American foreign policies depend, above all, upon the widest possible agreement on the proper US role in the world. This question is intensely debated. Pessimists argue that US power is declining because we have failed to strike the proper balance between our overseas and domestic commitments. This imbalance will continue to erode US power unless our commitments or our ambitions are curtailed. Optimists argue that American power remains preeminent. Trade and budget deficits limit our ability to affect world events, but US military and economic power remains unmatched.