Primacy and Its Discontents

"For centuries, the balance of power has been the central precept of international politics, so what happens when one country's overwhelming primacy makes restraining alliances seem obsolete? This collection of top-quality essays by premier scholars offers lively debates over alternatives like 'soft balancing' and multilateral institutional constraints. *Primacy and Its Discontents* is ideal for getting students thinking in the classroom."--Jack Snyder, Robert and Renee Belfer Professor of International Relations, Columbia University, author of *Electing to Fight: Why Emerging Democracies Go to War* "U.S. primacy remains of 'prime' importance to the current and future course of international politics. These superb ten essays capture the sources of, disputes about, and reactions to U.S. primacy. An excellent source for courses in international relations and American foreign policy." -- Robert Art , Christian A. Herter Professor of International Relations, Brandeis University

Michael E. Brown is Dean of the Elliott School of International Affairs at George Washington University. Owen Cote is Associate Director of the MIT Security Studies Program and Editor of the journal International Security. Sean M. Lynn-Jones is Editor of International Security, the International Security Program's quarterly journal. He is also series editor of the Belfer Center Studies in International Security, the Program's book series that is published by MIT Press. Steven E. Miller is director of the International Security Program at the Belfer Center. Graham Allison is Douglas Dillon Professor of Government and Director of the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs at the Harvard Kennedy School.