A Look Back to Look Forward: Insights from 1919-1933 Applied to America's 2011 Shift to the Pacific

reportActive / Technical Report | Accession Number: ADA589196 | Open PDF

Abstract:

Upon the conclusion of the Spanish-American War, the 1898 Treaty of Paris forced Spain to cede Puerto Rico, parts of the West Indies, Guam, and the Philippines to the United States. Over the past 110 years, the United States has instituted a myriad of political, economic, and security policies to promote American interests with varying degrees of success. George Santayana, once famously said, Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it. Therefore, reflecting on the past specifically the interwar period of 1919-1933 can provide insights to inform United States decisions with respect to the Asia-Pacific region today. This paper uses operational design to compare and contrast the strategic environment from 1919-1933 to today, then compare and contrast the problem the United States attempted to solve during these same two periods, and finally, examine the approach outcomes of the interwar period to inform U.S. decision making in the region today.

Author(s):
Eickhoff, Janell E.
Author Organization(s):
ARMY WAR COLLEGE CARLISLE BARRACKS PA
Descriptive Note:
Research paper
Supplementary Note:
DOI: 10.21236/ADA589196
Pagination:
0058

Security Markings

DOCUMENT & CONTEXTUAL SUMMARY

Distribution:
Approved For Public Release
Distribution Statement:
Approved For Public Release; Distribution Is Unlimited.

RECORD

Collection: TR
Identifying Numbers
Monitor Series:
USAWC
 Subject Terms
Joint Capability Areas:
JCA_8_Building Partnerships; JCA_5_Command and Control; JCA_8.1_Communicate; JCA_5.3_Planning; JCA_8.1.3_Influence Adversary and Competitor Audiences; JCA_8.2_Shape; JCA_1_Force Support; JCA_5.5_Direct; JCA_5.5.1_Communicate Intent and Guidance; JCA_5.3.3_Develop Strategy; JCA_1.2_Force Preparation; JCA_8.2.2_Provide Aid to Foreign Partners and Institutions; JCA_8.1.1_Inform Domestic and Foreign Audiences; JCA_1.1_Force Management; JCA_1.2.3_Educating; JCA_8.2.1_Partner with Governments and Institutions; JCA_6.4.1_Secure Information Exchange; JCA_6_Net Centric; JCA_8.2.3_Build the Capabilities and Capacities of Partners and Institutions; JCA_1.4_Force Support; JCA_6.4_Information Assurance
Communities of Interest:
Energy and Power Technologies
Descriptor(s):
*FOREIGN POLICY, *HISTORY, *UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT, CHINA, DECISION MAKING, ECONOMICS, FEDERAL BUDGETS, INTERNATIONAL TRADE, JAPAN, POLICIES, TREATIES
Field(s)/Group(s):
Government and Political Science
Keyword(s):
INTERWAR PERIODS, OPERATIONAL DESIGN, UNITED STATES HISTORY, ASIA PACIFIC STRATEGIC ENVIRONMENT
Report Date:
2013 Mar 01
Creation Date:
2013 Dec 16