This book focuses on the Biden Administration approach to dealing with global change. As in our earlier book entitled The Obama Administration Confronts Global Change, this book addresses how President Biden and his Administration came to terms with a world in significant change, one indeed which was entering a new historical era.

In this volume we have included essays which we have published on Second Line of Defense or Defense.info from 2021 through 2024. We looked at the various aspects of Biden Administration policy dealing with a world in change.

When Biden came to office, in many ways his approach was simply that “America is back.” Whereas Trump had crystallized his approach as making America great again, Biden was bringing America back.

The phrase itself is quite revealing. Associated with this was the assumption that they were replacing an administration with strong isolationist learnings and America was now back leading its global allies.

In his speech at the State Department on February 4, 2021, President Biden delivered his assessment of America’s role in the world and how his administration was going to “bring America back.”

“As I said in my inaugural address, we will repair our alliances and engage with the world once again, not to meet yesterday’s challenges, but today’s and tomorrow’s. American leadership must meet this new moment of advancing authoritarianism, including the growing ambitions of China to rival the United States and the determination of Russia to damage and disrupt our democracy.”

Did Biden and his Administration in fact do that?

This book analyzes the Biden administration’s approach to global affairs, examining its security agenda, relationships with allies and adversaries, and responses to international crises.

The book examines the withdrawal from Afghanistan, the handling of the Ukraine situation leading up to and following Russia’s invasion, and the challenges posed by rising authoritarian powers like China and Russia.

The book explores issues such as defense spending, economic competition, and shifting dynamics in regions like the Middle East and Central Asia, assessing the efficacy and long-term consequences of American foreign policy decisions.

The book also includes perspectives on domestic factors influencing America’s global standing and potential future trajectories.