War, Welfare & Democracy: Rethinking America's Quest for the End of History
"In this savagely critical yet astonishingly insightful book, Peter Munson lays bare the folly of what passes for sophisticated thinking in Washington. Better still, he offers a sound, reasoned basis for an altogether different approach—one with fewer wars and greater attention to putting America’s own house in order."—Andrew J. Bacevich, author ofWashington Rules: America’s Path to Permanent War"An outstanding indictment of the protracted and repeated political folly and grand strategic incompetence that has imperiled U.S. ability to function effectively as a prudent hegemonic power, Munson's powerfully persuasive study is an uncomfortable, but essential, read for Americans."—Colin S. Gray, author ofNational Security Dilemmas"With experience as a military professional and the eye of a strategist, Peter Munson provides a wise, elegantly written assessment of the choices the United States faces today in its security policy. Advocating neither isolation nor appeasement, he makes a strong case for retrenchment from ‘micromanagement of world affairs’ and a return to an exemplary role. All Americans concerned with their nation’s future should read it."—Steven Metz, author ofIraq and the Evolution of American Strategy"U.S. Marine and scholar Peter Munson has written a superb book about the severe limitations of military force to achieve what he rightly characterizes as 'utopian' outcomes. This is not an easy, feel-good read.War, Welfare & Democracyis a hard-hitting, rigorously researched call-to-action by a man who has served on the front lines."—Rye Barcott, author ofIt Happened on the Way to War"Peter Munson has a sharp mind and a keen eye for military affairs. His work develops a series of critical arguments designed to focus our limited resources in smart ways to cope with real security challenges today and in the future. His bottom line is straightforward: we should get our own house in order as the precondition for the emergence of any sound national security strategy."—Col. Douglas MacGregor, USA (Ret.), author ofWarrior’s Rage: The Great Tank Battle of 73 Eastingand executive vice president of Burke-Macgregor Group"War, Welfare, and Democracyis a well-researched and authoritative look at what drives us as a nation and how we arrived at where we are today."—Nathan K. Finney,US Army War College Quarterly