In light of the uncertainties associated with the further rise of China, the US has found a 'rational' strategic plan under President George W. Bush that is politically acceptable within the administration and to the domestic public at large. It combines elements of engagement and containment in...

The starting point of the argument is that America policy should be guided by the plausible assumption that German and European positions are not without influence in the current American debate about the country's role in the world. The fundamental goal of policy towards the United States,...

In the public debate, the use of sanctions seems to be viewed predominantly with scepticism. States, however, time and again seek refuge in these measures. But what can sanctions actually achieve? How do they work? What lessons can be learned from previous experiences? What more or less...

Nuclear deterrence is back. Of course, it had never disappeared, but retreated into the background as a hedge against future uncertainties. Hopes of overcoming the deterrence system through nuclear disarmament have been dashed. Nuclear deterrence gains new importance in the era of great power...

The Sino-American conflict syndrome contains several elements. It is based on a regional status competition, which is increasingly becoming global. This competition for influence has become combined with an ideological antagonism that has recently become more focused on the US side. Since the...