Stretching and exploiting thresholds for high-order war : : how Russia, China, and Iran are eroding American influence using time-tested measures short of war / / Ben Connable, Jason H. Campbell, Dan Madden.

• VerfasserIn: Connable, Ben,; Campbell, Jason H.,; Madden, Dan,
• TeilnehmendeR: Campbell, Jason H.,; Madden, Dan,; Arroyo Center,
• Place / Publishing House: Santa Monica, California : : RAND Corporation,, 2016.; ©2016
• Year of Publication: 2016
• Language: English
• Physical Description: 1 online resource (57 p.)
• Notes: Description based upon print version of record.

"U.S. thresholds for high-order conventional and nuclear war are diffuse and dynamic, differ across regions, and are hard to enforce. Since 9/11, three of the primary nation-state competitors to the United States--Russia, China, and Iran--have successfully exploited or stretched U.S. thresholds for high-order war in order to further their strategic ends and, in the process, undermine U.S. interests. Each of these countries has made expert use of some combination of measures short of war, including economic leverage, terrorism, limited military incursions, aggressive diplomacy, and covert action, to enact its strategies. Some argue that these actions constitute a new international order, or perhaps a new way of war. They do not: Use of measures short of war is time-tested nation-state behavior. U.S. policymakers and military service leaders would benefit from additional consideration of these measures, how they are used against the United States, and how they might be defended against and exploited to further U.S. strategic interests"--Publisher's description.

Table of Contents

Cover ; Title Page ; Copyright ; Preface; Contents; Figure; Summary; Acknowledgments; Abbreviations; CHAPTER ONE: Time-Tested Measures Short of War; Myths of the New Paradigms; CHAPTER TWO: American Understanding of Thresholds Is Impractical; CHAPTER THREE: Russia, China, and Iran Apply Measures Short of War; Example 1: Russia Exploits and Stretches Thresholds in Eastern Europe; Example 2: China Expands Its Boundaries in East Asia; Example 3: Iran in Iraq; CHAPTER FOUR: Conclusion, Considerations, and Cautions; Considerations

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