Democracy in U.S. Security Strategy

Zbigniew Brzezinski, recalling French strategic thinker Raymond Aron’s advice, recently counseled that “the strength of a great power is diminished if it ceases to serve an idea.” Since its inception and throughout U.S. history, democracy has been that idea. Yet, recent setbacks warrant reevaluating the place of democracy promotion in U.S. strategy. What role, if any, should democracy have in U.S. security strategy and public diplomacy today?