The book Dying by the Sword: The Militarization of US Foreign Policy by Monica Duffy Toft and Sidita Kushi is a historical account of the American military interventions abroad from 1776 till today. Notably, the book highlights that since the end of the Cold War and especially post-9/11, the US military interventions abroad have increased. Unlike the past when use of force was considered as the last resort, the US pursues a security policy known as ‘whack-a-mole’ which is more reactionary than deliberate, lacking clear strategic goals (p. 5).
The book comprises seven chapters and is a prominent reading on understanding the American imperialism. In the initial two chapters, the authors discuss different era of American expansionism providing a captivating journey of diplomatic events leading to a shift in American foreign policy. The authors argue that America’s early expansionism was driven by the powerful ideology of “Manifest Destiny” as well as domestic interests in maintaining the corrosive institution of slavery (p. 37). In 19th century, the US devoted much of its military power to waging war against American Indians and expanding itself westward through military interventionism (p. 43). The US also exercised its power beyond the continent during the early period of expansionism with its involvement in Haitian Revolution and the Barbary Wars (p. 49).
The authors examine first era of US foreign policy before the American Civil War and also trace how the once-imperialized America became an imperial power. The second chapter highlights key events in foreign policy from 1865 to 1917 and the pre-First World War era. In the period between 1865 and 1898, the US chose relative isolationism as its ‘new grand strategic posture’. However, in the beginning of 20th century, the US adopted the new grand strategy which focused on the expansion in the western hemisphere and the elimination of European influence from the region that was based on the Monroe Doctrine of 1823. The end of the Spanish-American War in 1898 also set the stage for more aggressive expansionism as the US annexed and occupied more distant territories in the Pacific, most importantly the Philippines (p. 78). It may be noted that big stick diplomacy and dollar diplomacy or the use of greater naval capabilities to protect American commercial interests in South America and the Caribbean were introduced under the presidencies of Roosevelt and William Taft (pg. 79).
The book discusses momentous events in US foreign policy during the interwar era. The authors trace the 20 years of crisis when Germany, Italy, and Japan turned to authoritarianism, militarism and aggressive territorial revanchism, while Britain and France chose the policy of appeasement. President Roosevelt’s approach transformed the US grand strategy from isolationism to a deeply engaged foreign policy posture as a great power (p. 112). Despite adopting the isolationism as a policy, the US continued its control of favorable foreign regimes in Haiti, Panama, Nicaragua and Mexico to protect its commercial interests and natural resources. The authors criticize the US role in managing the power relationships during the interwar period, suggesting that there were middle grounds available within US foreign policy that did not rely on either complete isolationism or global imperialism (pg. 132).
Chapter four sheds light on the post-Second World War international order when the US was promoting the principles of democracy, human rights and capitalistic freedom. The US and the Soviet Union emerged from the ashes of Second World War from the allies to the existential rivals (p. 163). The authors argue that while the US and the Soviet Union drew the Iron Curtain across the European continent, the Cold War was fought as much in Asia as it was in Europe. The authors point out that the realist school of thought tends to see the Cold War through the lens of power and security interests (p. 164). The Cold War intensified the power struggle and resulted in proxy wars as the two nuclear powers struggled for global dominance without any direct confrontation. With the disintegration of Soviet Union, the US emerged as the world’s sole superpower in the 1990s.
George H. W. Bush inherited the task of overseeing the successful conclusion of the Cold War and creating what he called “a new world order”. This era is known for the more interventionist foreign policy of the US when much of the US foreign policy and interventionism in the 1990s were based on the objectives of universal human rights. The authors emphasize that the end of Cold War brought uncertainty for America. In the absence of a challenging great power, the US found itself without a grand strategy. However, the US expanded NATO along with forming other security alliances. After 9/11, the US foreign policy changed from multilateral approach to “you are with us, or you are with the terrorists” mindset and the use of force became the first line of defense under the umbrella of Global War on Terror (pg. 202).
While tracing America’s pathway towards kinetic diplomacy and its implications for future US power, prosperity and international security, the authors discuss the rise of drone warfare program that replaced the traditional military tools and the shifting grand strategies from the Bush administration through Obama and Trump. Drone policy reflects one of the newest methods of US military interventions across the world (p. 229). Since 9/11, the US has exclusively used armed unmanned aerial vehicles and drones to fight militants in many countries. The drone warfare emerged as the face of US counterterrorism policy (p. 225).
The last chapter emphasizes several critical points and paints a picture of the consequences of “America First” foreign policy. The authors argue that the prioritization of global militarism and defense spending over domestic programs and economic support, has unintended repercussions. Broadly, the US foreign policy objectives have now shifted from territorial gains to regime change in the contemporary international politics (p. 255). The authors argue that the US “force-first” foreign policy option may make it easier for other state actors, especially powers such as Russia and China, to justify their growing militarism abroad. This policy of regime change abroad turns the US into a feared and increasingly resented global actor, instead of the beacon of liberty, the rule of law and democracy (p. 254).
This book serves as an insightful guide to understanding the US foreign policy and its military endeavors abroad. Broadly, the objectives of US interventions, highlighted in the book, have been territorial gains, protection of political, economic and military interests, removing and installing foreign regimes and maintaining its global hegemony. The authors point out that the US continues to rely on direct military aggression, covert and special operations and economic statecraft to support or overthrow foreign regimes. The book is a valuable contribution to the literature on the US foreign policy and an important reading for the students, practitioners and researchers of international relations, especially when the American global hegemony is declining in the face of emerging multipolar world order.
