University of South Florida Scholar Commons Graduate Theses and Dissertations Graduate School July 2019 For the Common Defense: The Evolution of National Security Strategy-Making Institutions & Impact on American Grand Strategy Nathan D. Barrick University of South Florida, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarcommons.usf.edu/etd Part of the Political Science Commons, and the Public Policy Commons Scholar Commons Citation Barrick, Nathan D., "For the Common Defense: The Evolution of National Security Strategy-Making Institutions & Impact on American Grand Strategy" (2019). Graduate Theses and Dissertations. https://scholarcommons.usf.edu/etd/7739 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate School at Scholar Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Graduate Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of Scholar Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. For the Common Defense: The Evolution of National Security Strategy-Making Institutions & Impact on American Grand Strategy by Nathan D. Barrick A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy Department of Political Science College of Arts and Sciences University of South Florida Major Professor: Jongseok Woo, Ph.D. Nicolas Thompson, Ph.D. Thomas Searle, Ph.D. Julia Irwin, Ph.D. Date of Approval: April 25th, 2019 Key Words: Joint Chiefs of Staff, Military, NeoClassical Realism Copyright © 2019, Nathan D. Barrick Dedication BATTLE STAFF OFFICER! REMEMBER… EVERYTHING YOU PLAN AND WRITE MUST BE EXECUTED BY THIS MAN. HE AND HIS BUDDIES WILL BE THE FIRST TO PAY FOR YOUR MISTAKES. DO YOUR JOB WELL – FUTURES DEPEND ON IT I can still see the simple black and white Army poster in my mind’s eye – the only image on it the haggard, muddy soldier in a helmet with thousand-mile stare expression. I can still feel the hard knot of conviction forming in my gut at the charge the poster issues to me. For 29 years I have been working on military plans. Sometimes for them to be executed in training; sometimes for them to be placed on a shelf. And many times to have American blood and treasure at risk… I never forget this responsibility – this duty which must be performed well, no matter what else is going on in my life... But rarely was I alone… This dissertation is dedicated to the strategic planners, in uniform and in civilian clothes, who imagine the worst, account for the last details, and envision the best of what we, as a nation, can accomplish. It always matters. Acknowledgements I start these acknowledgements with my parents. I thank them for instilling a love of learning and a commitment to excellence in education. My father has been a Doctor of Theology for not quite fifty years. I say “not quite” because I can remember when he was not. I can remember the times he was working on his dissertation in his office in the basement, not far from us kids’ playroom. From my “now” perspective, I laugh and wonder at how we must have distracted him. I can remember holding his completed written work in my hands and being so proud of him. I am confident in a father’s love to know he will feel very similar emotions when he holds this tome. I am very thankful to Dr. Jongseok Woo, my committee chair, for his guidance and support – I needed his endorsement and he made me work for it, what more could I have asked? I owe special thanks as well to the other members of my committee. I planned my choices strategically, because I knew how they could potentially contribute to helping me improve my research – they did that and more! Dr. Nicolas Thompson, Political Science, was the first professor I TA’d for and in our many discussions, I knew I wanted more of his piercing insight into American political science. As iron sharpens iron, we did not always agree; but, humbly, I must acknowledge I could not have formed this research agenda without his theoretical expertise and intellectual support. Dr. Julia Irwin, History, was commended to me by the History Department head Dr. Fraser Ottanelli, who graciously permitted me into his small seminars on TransAtlantic Migration and supported my acceptance to University of South Florida. I only wish I could have taken a class Dr. Irwin offered every single semester – an excellent teacher, scholar and the right kind of demanding professor a doctoral student requires. Where this research might appeal to historians, I owe that to her. Where this research fails to meet professional historian standards, the fault is my own – and be assured, she told me where it did not! Dr. Thomas Searle, Joint Special Operations University, military historian, kept reminding me where I came from in pursuing this research and kept me mindful of my audience. His own doctoral work on a very challenging subject inspired me to engage hard questions and hard truths, to be clear-eyed and objective – and careful. Jongseok, Nic, Julia, and Tom – thank you! I want to express my thanks to the faculty and staff of the School of Interdisciplinary Global Studies for their kind, generous, and substantive support during my research. Dr. Steven Tauber, the department head, engaged with me during my early research, in independent study, and gently mentored me. I will always appreciate his honesty in our first interview and his care and concern that I make the right choice. I am confident I made the right choice, Sir, thank you! Dr. Bernd Reiter and Dr. Steven Roach, graduate course directors during my studies, thank you for your classroom brilliance, availability, and for seizing those moments of opportunity to mentor. One hard part about being a doctoral student in my circumstances was the administrative processes the university required – I could not have completed this work without the assistance, guidance, reminders and support from Linda Boyette, Jamee Stiffler, Codi Babb, Jennifer Vincent, Marisa Laccone and Fedia Deshommes. My cohort of fellow doctoral students motivated me, providing friendship and encouragement – my best wishes for your success! – Felix Scholz, Cave McCoy, Maria Gonzalez Malabet, Dragana Mrvos, Sajjad Hussein, and Ehsan Kashfi. This course of study at USF was enriched by the broader crowd of students, graduate and undergraduate, who attended classes, either beside me or taught by me – I enjoyed spending time with and investing in our future! Finally, my family and friends! So many of you have offered encouragement over the years, I could not list you all. But I want to single out my brother, Colonel Tim Barrick – you know why! And my children, Sarah, Elena, Ian, Sydney, Connor, and Sarena – I hope my achievement can be an example to you for pursuing your dreams and ambitions no matter how long it takes or when the opportunities best arise for you to make them come true by sheer force of will. I appreciate the encouragement, love and motivation I took from you, whether you realized it or not! You made me feel like I could not give up. My loving wife, Sandra, you read every word, made more corrections and suggestions than I can count. How many hours upon hours did you have to listen to me tell you about this research? I am so very grateful for all that you have done to support my pursuit of this lifelong goal. Of all those that I have acknowledged here, the one indispensable person was you – this literal work would not have been possible without you – I love you. Table of Contents List of Abbreviations……………………………………………………………….……………. iv List of Figures……………………………………………………………………………………. ix List of Maps………………………………………………………………………………………. x Abstract…………………………………………………………………………………………... xi Contextual Quotes…………………………………………………………….………..………. xiii Preface……………………………………………………………………………...…………... xiv Introduction……………………………………………………………………………………….. 1 Theoretical Approaches…………………………………………………………...……… 1 Thesis…………………………………………………………………………...… 2 The Literature…………………………………………………………………...…3 Terms of Reference……………………………………….………………………………. 5 “…In the interest of national security…”………………………………………… 5 National security strategy-making institutions………………………………..… 11 Autonomic Institutions. ………………………………………………………… 17 Grand Strategy. ……………………………………………………………….… 19 Overview of Chapters…………………………………………………………………… 22 Relevance………………………………………………………………………………... 24 Chapter 1 Resurrecting Clausewitz for Neo-Classical Realism……………………………..…. 26 Before International Relations theory: Classical Realism………………………………. 26 International Relations: Theory versus Praxis……………………………………….….. 28 Neoclassical Realism……………………………………………………………………. 33 Roots of NCR: A Philosophical Foundation for Grand Strategy……………………….. 37 Strategic Culture: Military-focused Contributions to Grand Strategy………………….. 41 Domestic Institutions: Management Theories and National Security Strategy………… 43 Bureaucratic Autonomy…………………………………………………………………. 46 Expertise………………………………………………………………………… 50 Congress……………………………………………………………………….… 51 Significance of History………………………………………………………………….. 52 Measuring Change across Grand Strategic Moments…………………………………… 53 i Chapter 2 A New Global Power: The Spanish-American War……………………………...… 56 Introduction………………………………………………………..……………………. 56 Building the New American National Security State………………………………….... 59 The Spanish American War…………………………………………………………..…. 62 Commodore Dewey’s Victory in Manila Bay…………………………………... 65 Dodge Commission……………………………………………………………… 68 The Birth of U.S. National Security Institutions…………………………………………70 Naval Planning…………………………………………………………………..