Steve Yates breaks down “smart power,” the missing middle between open-ended military intervention and diplomacy that rewards bad behavior. Using Christian Whiton’s book Smart Power: Between Diplomacy and War as a guide, Yates looks at how America can better use culture, rhetoric, economics, intelligence, military posture and political warfare to confront China, Iran and other adversaries without repeating past failures.

Follow Nation States with Yates for clear, common-sense insights where Steve Yates serves as your personal national security advisor, breaking down world events in ways that matter to Main Street, not just Washington.

Today's topics: Steve Yates, Nation States with Yates, smart power, Christian Whiton, Smart Power: Between Diplomacy and War, national security, foreign policy, statecraft, diplomacy, war, appeasement, China, Iran, Islamism, political warfare, economic leverage, cultural influence, military posture, intelligence reform, Arab Spring, Libya, Benghazi, Taiwan, Russia, Ukraine, Abraham Accords, Trump administration, Obama administration, Bush administration, Cold War, America maxing