The future of American landpower : does forward presence still matter? : the case of the Army in Europe /

Deni, John R.

The future of American landpower : does forward presence still matter? : the case of the Army in Europe / John R. Deni. - Carlisle, PA : Strategic Studies Institute, U.S. Army War College, 2012 - viii, 43 p. : ill. ; 23 cm - Strategic Studies Institute monograph . - SSI monograph. .

SIP1212 "October 2012."

Includes bibliographical references (p. 35-43)

Introduction -- Bring the boys home -- By the numbers : America's presence in Europe -- European defense budget cuts -- Potential explanations : institutionalism, neorealism, and collective goods theory -- The purpose of the U.S. presence in Europe -- Conclusion.

This monograph explores the utility of forward presence in Europe, placing the recent decisions -- and, in particular, the arguments against forward presence -- in the context of a decades-long tradition on the part of many political leaders, scholars, and others to mistakenly tie the forward-basing of U.S. forces to more equal defense burden sharing across the entire North Atlantic alliance. In assessing whether and how forward presence still matters in terms of protecting U.S. interests and achieving U.S. objectives, the author bridges the gap between academics and practitioners by grounding his analysis in political science theory while illuminating how forward-basing yields direct, tangible benefits in terms of military operational interoperability. Moreover, this monograph forms a critical datapoint in the ongoing dialogue regarding the future of American Landpower, particular in this age of austerity.

1584875488 9781584875482


USA--defence policy--military strategy--military bases--Europe
USA--army--armed forces--deployment--Europe