An exploration of the key questions arising from the Congressional Commission on the Strategic Posture of the United States and the new Carnegie book, Abolishing Nuclear Weapons: A Debate.

The greatest challenges the United States faces—including nuclear proliferation, energy, Iraq, Middle East peace, and climate change—all require close U.S. cooperation with autocratic regimes. As a result, the proposed League of Democracies would unnecessarily antagonize and alienate countries central to the future of U.S. foreign policy.

Since the pursuit of economic development and deepening democracy are complementary goals, there should be a long-term processes of democratic development that involves incentives for democratic reform and putting existing domestic democratic institutions to work.