An Analysis Of The Causes And Characteristics Of The Formation Of American National Security System In The Early Cold War

After the World War II, United States began to adjust the foreign policies and built the National Security system according to the new pattern of international relations and experience of the war. On the one hand, the United States took containment strategy to the Soviet facing the new situation. On the other hand, intelligence agencies and the Army services should take necessary adjustments of departmental functions in the peacetime. They put forward a variety of plans, which containing the coordination of the Army and centralized management of intelligence. During the process of this debate, the United States began to deliberate the nation security. Therefore, it is imperative for United States to establish an effective national security system facing the situation at home and abroad.This paper discusses the reports and acts of the national security to combing the process of national security system that initially established, and further analyzes the characteristics and defects of the national security system.This paper is divided into three parts. The first part focuses on the new elements that affect US national security. Cold War was regarded as the main reason for the formation of the national security system in the traditional thought. However, the progress of military theory and military technology, the development of the intelligence community are also the important factors that the system established. The second part discusses the initial establishment of the US national security system. The paper researches on the background and content of the critical reports, the President’s message and the acts, which understanding process of the system established. The third part evaluates the US national security system and discusses the characteristics, principles and problems of the system.