What do you think?
Rate this book
US National Security: Policymakers, Processes, and Politics
"The new edition of US NationalSecurity is an essential addition to any academic library."― Choice “Quitesimply the ‘bottom-line-up-front’ text on the subject … an outstanding resourcefor students. This accessible work helps readers grasp the key issues,institutions, and processes of US national security policy and politics.” ―Steven Childs, California StateUniversity, San Bernardino "Thesixth edition of the venerable US National Policymakers,Processes, and Politics does not disappoint. It expertly takes the readerthrough the myriad policy and political challenges, both domestic andinternational, inherent in the national security decision-making process.” ―ArnoldC. Dupuy, Virginia Tech
“Accessible, well-organized, and deeply knowledgeable…. Updated to include the Biden Administration, this excellent introduction to national security policymaking shows clearly the interaction of, and tensions between, domestic and international politics, interests and values, and formal and informal institutions of governance.” ―Russell Burgos, National Defense University
Praise for the previous
"Takes us through the process and the institutions briefly, clearly, logically.... a most thoughtful and enlightening presentation." ― International Affairs
"The most easily understood introduction to the US national security process is still Sam C. Sarkesian's US National Security." ― Military Review
"Well organized, probing, instructive, and multidimensional in perspective." ― Perspectives on Political Science
The main focus of US national security policy has shifted dramatically since the years of the Obama administration, moving away from nation building and counterinsurgency efforts and toward preparing for traditional state-on-state conflict with powerful peers. The sixth edition of US National Security reflects that change. It also addresses such current issues as the impact of an increasingly partisan political process, sharp divisions in public opinion, the ongoing challenges of homeland security, and developments in cyberspace and other possible domains of future warfare.
Retaining the successful structure and approach of the previous editions, the book clearly introduces and explores the full range of actors, processes, and politics involved in maintaining US national security.
“Accessible, well-organized, and deeply knowledgeable…. Updated to include the Biden Administration, this excellent introduction to national security policymaking shows clearly the interaction of, and tensions between, domestic and international politics, interests and values, and formal and informal institutions of governance.” ―Russell Burgos, National Defense University
Praise for the previous
"Takes us through the process and the institutions briefly, clearly, logically.... a most thoughtful and enlightening presentation." ― International Affairs
"The most easily understood introduction to the US national security process is still Sam C. Sarkesian's US National Security." ― Military Review
"Well organized, probing, instructive, and multidimensional in perspective." ― Perspectives on Political Science
The main focus of US national security policy has shifted dramatically since the years of the Obama administration, moving away from nation building and counterinsurgency efforts and toward preparing for traditional state-on-state conflict with powerful peers. The sixth edition of US National Security reflects that change. It also addresses such current issues as the impact of an increasingly partisan political process, sharp divisions in public opinion, the ongoing challenges of homeland security, and developments in cyberspace and other possible domains of future warfare.
Retaining the successful structure and approach of the previous editions, the book clearly introduces and explores the full range of actors, processes, and politics involved in maintaining US national security.
411 pages, Paperback
Published July 1, 2022
3 people are currently reading
3 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 of 1 review
June 15, 2024
I am using this as a text in my national security organizations course. It gives a good broad view of the actors and processes by which national security policy is made. Because it is only a few years old, it uses contemporary as well as historical examples to demonstrate the concepts being discussed.
There are some topics (e.g., the Department of Homeland Security, the State Department) that are in other texts and I would have preferred more emphasis on some aspects, such as hard v. soft power. But that is the trade-off for books on this topic. It is easy to overwhelm readers (students) with details.
There are some topics (e.g., the Department of Homeland Security, the State Department) that are in other texts and I would have preferred more emphasis on some aspects, such as hard v. soft power. But that is the trade-off for books on this topic. It is easy to overwhelm readers (students) with details.
Displaying 1 of 1 review