series_item_video
Published February 23, 2021
Some believe that the presence of the United States in foreign countries is the principal cause of the world’s problems. They maintain that America should pursue a foreign policy strategy of retrenchment, but history makes clear that US disengagement is costlier than sustained engagement. Global support for democracy and the rule of law continues to be the best means of promoting worldwide peace.
Discussion Questions:
- What are some historical examples of US disengagement in foreign policy?
- What do Americans stand for? What must American leaders defend?
Additional Resources:
- Read Battlegrounds: The Fight to Defend the Free World, by H. R. McMaster. Available here.
- Watch Battlegrounds: International Perspectives on Crucial Challenges to Security and Prosperity, a video series with H. R. McMaster. Available here.
- Listen to “Defending the Free World,” an episode of the GoodFellows podcast with H. R. McMaster. Available here.
Related
Videos
H.R. McMaster On Trump's Iran War Ahead Of The Midterms, Murphy's Claims About US Base Access
Hoover Institution fellow H.R. McMaster discusses the state of the Iran war ahead of the midterms.
October 10, 2026
Articles
The More Putin Escalates His Attacks On Europe, The More Europe Should Support Ukraine
Moscow’s imperialist strongman believes decadent European democracies can be cowed. Our job is to prove him wrong
October 11, 2026

