The Big Stick

The Tikvah Podcast

Tikvah

Judaism, Politics, Religion & Spirituality, News

4.6 • 620 Ratings

🗓️ 24 March 2017

⏱️ 84 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

As Jews, as Americans, as thoughtful citizens and friends of the decent order of the West, we face great challenges to our security. Those challenges are posed by authoritarian and expansionist powers like China and Russia, by dangerous states like Iran and North Korea, by radical Islamist movements like ISIS, and by new dangers like cyberwarfare and the weaponization of space. To help us think a little more clearly about the strategy of American security and the political order it helps to underwrite, Tikvah Fund Executive Director Eric Cohen hosted Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) Professor Eliot Cohen at the Tikvah Center in New York City.

Drawing on his new book, The Big Stick: The Limits of Soft Power and the Necessity of Military Force, Professor Cohen argued that America’s global military presence is essential for American foreign policy. Their conversation touches upon the American conception of war, the state of American forces, American force projection, the operations and scope of the American government, and the tactics and aims of America’s rivals. Professor Cohen also assesses Israel’s current strategic position, and offers his thoughts on Israel’s national security imperatives.

This conversation took place on March 6, 2017.

Transcript

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0:00.0	Okay, good evening everybody and welcome.
0:10.0	My name is Eric Cohen.
0:13.0	I'm the executive director of the Tikva Fund, and it's really a privilege to welcome you to tonight's conversation.
0:19.0	This is one of a number of discussions we hope to do
0:21.8	over the next many months on important books, ideas, essays,
0:25.6	and arguments that serious Jews, serious Americans should consider.
0:31.0	The topics will be varied, Israel and Zionism,
0:34.5	the future of American Judaism, Jewish literature and culture,
0:39.5	as well as tonight's discussion, which is really a conversation about America's leadership and America's role
0:44.8	in the world.
0:46.9	The occasion for Knight's conversation is the publication of this very important new book,
0:51.2	The Big Stick, The Limits of Soft Power, and the Necessity of Military
0:55.0	Force.
0:56.4	This is not, shall I say, good light reading for vacation or for bedtime, though it does
1:02.4	end on a note of responsibility, but also a note of optimism, if sober optimism.
1:06.9	I want to read the last line because it's just so powerful.
1:10.4	Even in the darkest times, the proper temper of freedom remains sober optimism,
1:15.8	and in that respect, nothing has changed.
1:19.3	Well, I don't need to tell any of you that we face great challenges as Americans, as Jews,
1:24.3	as thoughtful citizens of the civilized world, challenges from authoritarian and expansionist
1:30.6	powers like China and Russia, challenges from dangerous states like Iran and North Korea,
1:36.7	challenges from radical Islamic movements like ISIS, and from new dangers like cyber warfare
	...

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