Beyond the Wire: Us Military Deployments and Host Country Public Opinion

In Beyond the Wire, the authors argue that the US has entered into a "Domain of Competitive Consent" where the longevity of overseas deployments relies upon the buy-in from host-state populations and what other major powers offer in security guarantees. Drawing from three years of surveys and interviews across fourteen countries, they demonstrate that a key component of building support for the US mission is the service members themselves as they interact with local community members. They also highlight both the positive contact and economic benefits that flow from military deployments and the negative interactions like crime and anti-base protests.