The Sheriff: America's Defense of the New World Order (Hardcover)

"A very fine contribution in the field of national security.-- Center for Research on Geopolitics" -- Center for Research on Geopolitics

"Highly recommended. This seminal work should be required reading for security policy practitioners.-- Choice" -- Choice

"For over 30 years, Colin Gray has been the most consistently brilliant strategic thinker in the English-speaking world.... Makes a persuasive case for America's role as sheriff of the new world order.-- Claremont Review of Books" -- Claremont Review of Books

"Gray's warnings--and the parallel discussion of the prerequisites of effective policing--contain no small amount of wisdom.-- International History Review" -- International History Review

"A significant contribution -- the metaphor of the U.S. as sheriff is just right. World order is not self-enforcing; but this proposition, which contradicts neorealism's view on the balance of power and is anathema to globalism, suggests to Gray truly sound ideas to help the U.S. understand its proper role in the world to maintain international order.-- Mark T. Clark, California State University" -- Mark T. Clark, California State University

"Gray makes a strong case for the U.S. role in regulating international politics.-- Naval War Review" -- Naval War Review

"Argues that the United States is, and should continue to be, the world's guardian in the post-11 September 2001 world.-- Proceedings" -- Proceedings

"A must for anyone who wants a serious understanding of the difficult position America is in and why the challenges if faces is wider than Iraq and al-Qaeda.... Challenges the reader to think beyond current events.-- Survival" -- Survival

"A stellar contribution to the continuing debate over America's security role in the world. Will definitely make required reading in my seminars. I do not believe it will ever become out of date as it deals with core and enduring principles of U.S. strategy and foreign policy as well as matters of current interest and debate.-- William R. Van Cleave, Southwest Missouri State" -- William R. Van Cleave, Southwest Missouri State

""Thoughtful as well as prolific.... The Sheriff is a rather brief but persuasive argument... that the U.S. ought to become... a selectively responding 'sheriff' acting in its own best interest."" -- International Journal of Naval History

In this groundbreaking book, policy expert Colin S. Gray presents a clear and sophisticated argument that the United States is—and should continue to be—the world’s guardian. The Sheriff: America’s Defense of the New World Order sets forth a strategic analysis with nine basic themes as guides to where, when, and how America should be involved in international security affairs. Gray’s constructive critique of recent trends in national security is comprehensive, rooting defense issues and prospective solutions in both U.S. national security policy and the emerging international security environment.

In an era marked by terrorism, political unrest, and the increased interdependence of the world community, Gray describes and prescribes America’s continuing role as "sheriff." According to Gray, world order is not self-enforcing and nations do not always act reasonably or predictably. Therefore, Gray concludes, the U.S. serves itself by selectively serving the world. He argues that military, strategic, and political effectiveness are separate issues and that goals for each of these areas should be effectively articulated to the American public and the world community. Additionally, he maintains that technology alone does not dictate military success and that the current transformation of the U.S. military must be engineered in the context of a well-defined global strategy.

Essential reading for understanding the changing dynamics of a twenty-first century world, The Sheriff is a hard-nosed look at the fundamental workings of world politics and an explanation of the necessity and scope of America’s guardian role of today and for decades to come.