Faith in the System: Conceptualizing Grand Strategy in the Post 9/11 World Order

摘要

The goal of Islamist terror groups is most usefully conceptualized as lowering levels of dynamic density within the international society to prevent Western institutions from supplanting local ones. Expressing the conflict in terms of relative influence permits a definition of the issue of contention that is currently lacking. This article draws on precepts of systems theory to explain the “War on Terror” as a conflict over the penetration of Western institutions into other societies. The basis of American grand strategy should therefore be encouraging greater reach of institutions that continue to enjoy global appeal despite policy differences.