The Role of the United States Navy in Sustaining and Protecting the Global Economy

Beneke, Richard U. (2014) The Role of the United States Navy in Sustaining and Protecting the Global Economy. Undergraduate thesis, under the direction of David Rutherford from Public Policy and Leadership, The University of Mississippi.

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Abstract

Because of the rapid changes occurring in the world, the United States government is being forced to evaluate if the navy has become obsolete. With current cuts coming to the navy it seemed an important aspect to investigate. Therefore, the purpose of this thesis is to investigate whether or not the United States should cut funding for the Navy by looking specifically at the impact the United States Navy has on the Global Economy by securing shipping lanes and the free navigation of the sea. The study will be conducted as a literature review. In the thesis, the nature of the global economy is looked at in detail. The global economy is extremely interconnected and therefore the United States as a global power cannot defend just its borders. More specifically, chokepoints are areas of concern in the global economy. Chokepoints are often congested, but extremely important for international commerce. A few that are of extreme importance are the Strait of Hormuz, the Strait of Malacca, and the South China Sea. These chokepoints, in combination with the rise of regional competitors to the United States near them, are reason for concern. I found that in order to ensure the continued economic development and stability of the world, the United States Navy must continue to be funded at a level that reflects the responsibility it is expected to maintain. The world economy is invaluable therefore the protection of it should be as well.

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