NCJ Number
238945
Journal
American Criminal Law Review Volume: 48 Issue: 4 Dated: Fall 2011 Pages: 1573-1756
Date Published
2011
Length
184 pages
Annotation
After defining "national security," this essay identifies four epochs that have marked changes in the concept of U.S. national security.
Abstract
As discussed in this essay, the author defines "national security" as "the preservation of the political and constitutional structures in light of the purpose for which they were created." Under this definition of national security, four major epochs of national-security policy are identified. The first epoch (1776-1898) focused on the Union itself, i.e., the establishment of the political institution of the national government as a necessary condition of the country's existence. National security thus meant doing what was necessary to ensure the continuation of the political entity established. For the second epoch (1898 - 1930), the 1898 Spanish-American War proved pivotal, as did industrialization, in promoting U.S. interests through formative political, military, and economic engagement in the international arena. The United States assumed a more active role internationally in defending its commercial interests, and the national government's power was being challenged by the growth of powerful domestic economic entities. The third epoch (1930 - 1989) emerged in response to the growth of totalitarianism. It witnessed the rapid promotion of national security in opposition to totalitarian expansion, primarily under the aggressive communist ideology. This was the overriding national issue, forcing other concerns to secondary status. The fourth epoch (1989 - 2012) arrived with the end of the "Cold War." Subsequently, the United States focused on balancing competing risks to the Nation. These risks pertain to climate change, pandemic disease, drugs, organized crime, economic vitality, energy, nuclear proliferation, biological weapons, and terrorism. National security persists as a dominant focus, constantly expanding to encompass other perceived threats to the American way of life. 1,307 notes