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Why Nation Building Is Inevitable (Rau, Popular Source)

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Why Nation Building Is Inevitable (Rau, Popular Source)

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Rau argues that nation-building's inevitability stems from the growing threat from failed states, authoritarian regimes, and non-state actors like terrorist groups. He argues for modest nation-building in the form of economic aid for countries like Ukraine and minimal nation-building for countries like Afghanistan. Most importantly, his characterization of nation-building as a crucial component of the response to modern threats confirms that irregular warfare and nation-building are inseparable. The only way to defend the free world and win in irregular conflicts, by Rau's estimation, is to nation-build to varying degrees and in different manners.

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Image of Seoul, South Korea (CNN, Popular Source)

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Image of Seoul, South Korea (CNN, Popular Source)

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Images of modern Seoul reflect an advanced, industrialized society built from the ground up through U.S. assistance. Brazinsky notes that South Korea was once considered a lost cause; that it now resembles democratic nations of the West is a testament to the transformative potential of nation-building.

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The Backlash Against Nation-Building (Tierney)

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The Backlash Against Nation-Building (Tierney)

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Similar to Dobbins and others, Tierney criticizes elements of George Bush's Iraq and Afghanistan policy but reaffirms the necessity of nation-building. He warns that increased hostility towards the concept will stagger the military's ability to respond to counterinsurgents and curb terrorist influence.

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Post-9/11 Nation-Building: Afghanistan and Iraq (Dobbins et al.)

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Post-9/11 Nation-Building: Afghanistan and Iraq (Dobbins et al.)

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Dobbins et al. notes the issues present in America's Middle Eastern stabilization policy, but also draws key distinctions between that policy and that of Japan, Germany, and other nations that were successfully reconstructed. Additionally, they argue that Afghanistan could have potentially been stabilized, but complacency from the Bush administration was at fault for the reversal of that process, not nation-building itself.

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Nation Building in South Korea: Koreans, Americans, and the Making of a Democracy (Brazinsky)

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Nation Building in South Korea: Koreans, Americans, and the Making of a Democracy (Brazinsky)

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Similar to Japan, South Korea was democratized with assistance from the United States, and it too is a dependable ally against enemy powers today. Moreover, its history along with Japan's confirms that non-Western nations can be rebuilt into stable and fully or partially democratic societies.

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For the U.S., There's No Avoiding Nation-Building (Tierney, Popular Source)

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For the U.S., There's No Avoiding Nation-Building (Tierney, Popular Source)

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Tierney notes that a majority of modern conflicts are characterized by irregular warfare; that is, the countries in which those conflicts occur are plagued by civil wars, terrorism, and other issues that cannot be resolved through conventional military means. Accordingly, the countries must be approached with a combination of military force and stabilization policy that "win[s] hearts and minds."

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Contention 3: Conflicts in which irregular warfare is present are best resolved when stabilization policy is enacted.

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Contention 3: Conflicts in which irregular warfare is present are best resolved when stabilization policy is enacted.

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Contention 2: Several historical examples of America successfully stabilizing a nation suggest that the current debate should not be centered on whether nation-building has merit, but rather when it should be deployed and how.

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Contention 2: Several historical examples of America successfully stabilizing a nation suggest that the current debate should not be centered on whether nation-building has merit, but rather when it should be deployed and how.

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Contention 1: The War on Terrorism is often seen as evidence that nation-building is a failure, but the conflict only proves that nation-building has limits, not that it completely lacks efficacy.

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Contention 1: The War on Terrorism is often seen as evidence that nation-building is a failure, but the conflict only proves that nation-building has limits, not that it completely lacks efficacy.

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Main Idea: Nation-building has the potential to stabilize a foreign power and consequently fortify global and American security.

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Main Idea: Nation-building has the potential to stabilize a foreign power and consequently fortify global and American security.

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America's Role in Nation-Building: From Germany to Iraq (Dobbins et al.)

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America's Role in Nation-Building: From Germany to Iraq (Dobbins et al.)

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Dobbins et al. defends America's nation-building efforts in post-Imperial Japan. They contend that Japan's current position as an economically powerful and democratic nation is due to those efforts. America's economic and defense alliance with Japan allows it to compete with formidable enemies like China, preventing them from eroding global security.