The Grand Strategy Sessions Michael Beckley: Alliances and Coercion
Sep 15, 2025
Michael Beckley, an associate professor at Tufts University and fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, dives into the complexities of U.S. grand strategy. He discusses how American policymakers can leverage multilateral institutions, the importance of rightsizing alliances, and the use of 'tough love' to encourage burden sharing among allies. Beckley challenges the narrative of U.S. decline and advocates for a proactive approach, emphasizing strategic principles that can help navigate the shifting global landscape.
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Latent U.S. Strength, Military Strains
- The United States retains vast latent economic and technological power despite worries of decline.
- Military spending fell as a share of GDP, making U.S. military position more precarious regionally.
Strengths That Hinder Mobilization
- America's decentralization and immigrant dynamism create innovation but hinder rapid national mobilization.
- Political fragmentation breeds 'hollow internationalism'—talk without commensurate national force.
Order Of Success And New Vulnerabilities
- The liberal international order succeeded by pacifying key states but also produced allies that now under-burden defense.
- Openness enabled adversaries like China to exploit the system while not reciprocating liberal norms.