Reflections on “The American Perception of Substate Threats”

Christopher A. PrebleEditor ’s note: In 2014, Cato releasedA Dangerous World? Threat Perception and U.S. National Security, an edited volume of papers originally presented ata Cato conference the previous year. In each chapter, experts on international security assessed, and put in context, the supposed dangers to American security, from nuclear proliferation and a rising China, to terrorism and climate change.As part of ourProject on Threat Inflation, Cato is republishing each chapter in an easily readable online format. Even six years after its publication, much of the book remains relevant. Policymakers and influencers continue to tout a dizzying range of threats, and Americans are still afraid. We invited each author to revisit their arguments and offer a few new observations in light of recent events. The first of these, by Brendan Rittenhouse Green, appearedhere last week.Paul R. Pillar, a non ‐​resident senior fellow at the Center for Security Studies of Georgetown University, and a non ‐​resident fellow of the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft, provides his thoughts below. His reflections on hischapter are informed by his 28 ‐​year career in the U.S. intelligence community, and his voluminous writing and research, including his most recent book,Why America Misunderstands the World: National Experience and Roots of Misperception (Columbia University Press, 2016), whichhe discussed at Cato in late 2016.—–Pre...
Source: Cato-at-liberty - Category: American Health Authors: Source Type: blogs