Rollie Lal

This book examines the major dynamics that drive changes in the religio-political landscape of the Muslim world, the effects of 9/11, the global war on terrorism, and the war in Iraq, and their implications for global security and U. S. and Western interests.

This new book examines the major dynamics driving changes in the religio-political landscape of the Muslim world.

Iran is one of the most important U. S. foreign policy concerns but is extraordinarily difficult to engage. The authors assess current political, ethnic, demographic, and economic trends and vulnerabilities in Iran, then offer recommendations on U. S. policies that might foster the trends beneficial to U. S. interests. However, if these trends do take root in Iran, seeing them come to fruition will take time and, therefore, patience. Because Iran's current regime is entrenched, U. S. policies should focus on long-run changes in Iran by cultivating favorable political, demographic, and economic trends.

This study examines the results of U. S. assistance to the internal security forces of four repressive states: El Salvador, Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, and Pakistan. Efforts to improve the security, human rights, and accountability of security forces appear more likely to succeed in states transitioning from repressive to democratic systems. In addition, several factors are critical for success: the duration of assistance, viability of the justice system, and support and buy-in from the local government (including key ministries).

China, Iran, Afghanistan, India, and Pakistan are critical players in the security and economic issues that will determine the future of Central Asia and affect U. S. interests in the region. By assessing the developing relations between Central Asia and its neighbors, it is evident that each country stands to benefit from stability and economic growth in Central Asia, but opinion toward U. S. presence and policy in the region could be a point of conflict.

Key to developing national security strategy is figuring out what other countries want. What are their national interests? How do they perceive them? How do they project them onto the world stage? Understanding all of this helps us to predict their behavior. In developing a national security strategy for Asia, the United States must take into account the desires of two emerging giants of the 21st century: China and India. We would be mistaken, Lal argues, if we lumped China and India together in one Asian policy, because these two countries differ greatly from one another. Based on over 120 in-depth interviews with government officials and scholars in Beijing and New Delhi, the author's research yields some surprising news about the differences between China and India. Chinese leaders define their national interest as preservation of the state and territorial unity, whereas Indian decision makers define their national interests in relation to forces beyond India, such as the forces of globalization and their geopolitical status. One factor that accounts for these differences, among the many explored in this book, is the influence of one-party rule in China and parliamentary democracy in India. Another important finding is that China and India are unlikely to pursue hostility with each other. The U. S. approach to Asia will need to take these differences into account.

Highlights key factors in South Asia imperiling U. S. interests, and suggests how and where the U. S. military might play an expanded, influential role. It suggests steps the military might take to better advance and defend U. S. interests in the area. This monograph highlights key factors in South Asia imperiling U. S. interests, and suggests how and where the U. S. military might play an expanded, influential role. It suggests seven steps the military might take to better advance and defend U. S. interests in South Asia, the Middle East, and Asia at large. Washington should intensify involvement in South Asia and become more influential with the governments there. Given the area's potential for violence, it should also shape part of the U. S. military to meet potential crises.

This title presents a nearly 50-year review of U. S. efforts to transform defeated and broken enemies into democratic and prosperous allies.