Foreign Policy and National Security

Clear and Present Safety: The World Has Never Been Better and Why That Matters to Americans

What most frightens the average American? Terrorism. North Korea. Iran. But what if none of those are probable or consequential threats to America?

In this compelling look at what they call the “Threat Industrial Complex,” Michael A. Cohen and Micah Zenko explain why politicians, policy analysts, academics, and journalists are misleading Americans about foreign threats and argue that we should focus instead on furthering extraordinary global advances in human development and economic and political cooperation.

Join us as Zenko and Cohen discuss their book, with additional comments by Sharon Burke of New America.

America’s Nuclear Crossroads: A Forward-Looking Anthology

As the United States adjusts to a changing global balance of power, nuclear deterrence is poised to return to a level of importance in U.S. national security not seen since the end of the Cold War. However, U.S. nuclear strategy will have to contend with emerging issues like arms control in a multipolar world, the evolution of strategic technology, and the new contours of great power competition. America’s Nuclear Crossroads, a forthcoming anthology from the Cato Institute, examines nine pressing issues in nuclear deterrence and arms control facing U.S. policymakers. The full anthology will be released later this spring, but three advance chapters are currently available. To receive email updates about the project, including notification of the full publication and information about anthology-related speaking events, click here.

Call for Proposals: 2019 Junior Scholars Symposium

The Cato Institute is now taking submissions for its annual Junior Scholar Symposium for graduate students. Participants will be expected to produce an original paper of journal-article length; the workshop will focus on paper presentations, discussion and suggestions for improvement, with the expectation that authors will go on to seek publication in external journals or to build upon this research as they move towards the dissertation phase of their studies. Click here for details and requirements.

Cato Studies

More Cato Studies

Of Special Note

Our Foreign Policy Choices

The world today is certainly safer for Americans than it was under the existential threat posed by the Soviet Union. But the world is undoubtedly more complex, as nonstate actors, shifting alliances, and diverse domestic political factors complicate U.S. foreign policy. A robust debate on America’s foreign policy choices is urgently needed.

Foreign Policy Book Nook

Reading List

In the hope of inducing further study and better acquainting people with Cato’s work on defense and foreign policy, we’ve compiled a short bibliography of essays, speeches, and books on various national security topics. The list is designed to be an entry point for individuals interested in learning about a foreign policy of restraint.

Cyberskepticism

The Cyberskeptics

In the last few years, concerns about cybercrime, cyberterrorism, and cyberwar have escalated dramatically in the United States. Billions of dollars are being thrown at these problems, and most of the discussion is alarmist in the extreme. This page challenges the assumption that cyberdoom is approaching.

New Podcast: Power Problems

New Podcast: Power Problems

Power Problems is a bi-weekly podcast from the Cato Institute. Hosts Trevor Thrall and Emma Ashford offer a skeptical take on U.S. foreign policy, and discuss today’s big questions in international security with guests from across the political spectrum. Follow the conversation on Twitter with the hashtag #FPPowerProblems.