Abstract

This study attempts to answer one fundamental question: Is there a principle of action applicable to foreign policy? The study is not a quest into philosophy per se, nor another work on "just war" theory. It focuses on national strategy in the holistic sense of the word--ethical, social, economic, political, military, nuclear. Part One explores the linkages between ethics and strategy, and constructs a typology of war and peace. Part Two investigates the relationship between strategy and power, and proposes a new paradigm of strategy. Part Three assesses the potential for building a Stable Peace, a type of peace two steps beyond Cold War. Three case studies illustrate the strategic approaches utilized by the United States, European Community, and Soviet Union. Additionally, the failure of Gorbachev and Leninism is analyzed, as is the partial success of Bush's strategic vision. ;The conclusions can be stated in two key propositions. First, there is a natural relation between ethics and strategy--a principle of strategic action applicable to foreign policy. This is not to say that leaders' actions always accord with this principle. However, action in accordance with this principle strengthens a nation. The United States and its allies prevailed in the Cold War because the containment strategy accorded with this principle better than did Soviet strategy. Indeed, Gorbachev's "new thinking" was an effort to remedy this failure by basing Soviet ethics and strategy on this principle. ;Second, despite the end of the Cold War, the struggle between nations continues. Conflict has become increasingly extensive, pervading every level of international discourse. Although East-West relations have improved, they have not yet entered a period of Stable Peace. Relations within the West have become increasingly acrimonious as the military threat recedes and economic interests prevail. North-South relations remain tenuous at best. Nonetheless, there is an opportunity for nations to fortify the international community and build a better, more stable peace. The United States can play a leading role in this effort by developing a new post-Cold War strategy which accords with the ethical-strategic principle of action