Abstract :
In this paper, I argue that there is an emerging consensus among realists that the USshould abandon its hegemonic strategy and adopt an offshore balancing strategy. Here, Iraqand the so called war on terrorism (or ‘long war’, or ‘global counter-insurgency’, as someAmerican officials sometimes refer to it) have been the catalysts. Increasingly, it is recognisedthat US aims in the Persian Gulf/Middle East – and the American military presence in theregion – have fuelled terrorism, and caused Iran to self-defensively seek to acquire a nuclearweapons capability. A number of leading realists now argue that the best strategy for the USis to extricate itself from Iraq, reduce its regional footprint, and adopt an offshore balancingstrategy.
