This book asserts that there exists a causal relationship between identity, interest, and the exercise of power. The work defines power as the ability to satisfy oneself, which makes power contingent upon belief. It also dissects the concepts of identity, interest, and power to reveal how each works and relate to the others. This analysis creates a new theory of power using constructivism informed by critical theory, departing from neorealist and neoliberal perspectives. The work uses the United States to test the theory by examining US national identity, interest, and exercises of power. A deconstruction of American Exceptionalism proceeds three case studies and runs as a theme to connect each, unifying the work. A military operation in 2016 against the Islamic State in Libya, the 2014 Russian annexation of Crimea, and the whiplash caused by US participation in the 2015 Paris Agreement serve as the three case studies for analyzing US identity, interest, and power through the theory. This work proposes a new way of understanding power based on constructivism and informed by critical theory that applies to interpersonal and international relationships. Every relation is a power relation and power is the ability to satisfy oneself. This book provides insight into the underlying causes and machinations that transpire within every kind of social relation. This is a significant shift in how power is understood and applied in politics, the military, business, and interpersonal relationships. This book seeks to provide the reader with greater and clearer understanding of themselves, the world in which they live, and why it exists as such.

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Kirby Wedekind serves as the Security Advisor in northeast Florida for the US Department of Homeland Security's Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. Based in Jacksonville, his duties include serving as a liaison from CISA to local government agencies and private industry; fostering community awareness on security topics ranging from cybersecurity to active shooter preparedness; conducting vulnerability assessments of critical infrastructure; and sharing security-related information with communities of interest across northeast Florida. Dr. Wedekind supervises the Protective Security Advisors in North Carolina and South Carolina.Dr. Wedekind joined the Department of Homeland Security in 2013 as a planner supporting the protection of critical national infrastructure. While in this role, his portfolio included strategic planning for special events and Soft Target - Crowded Places, including as one of the leaders for the creation of the Department's Soft Target - Crowded Places Security Plan that has driven the national effort to enhance the security of vulnerabilities that inherently exist in the unprotected places and spaces across the United States. For his efforts, Dr. Wedekind received the Infrastructure Security Division's Assistant Director Medal and the Secretary's Unity of Effort Award in 2018.In addition to his work with the US Department of Homeland Security, Dr. Wedekind is currently a Visiting Fellow at Cranfield University and the chair of the advisory board for Jacksonville University's Center of Cybersecurity. He contributed a chapter to Deterrence: Concepts and Approaches for Current and Emerging Threats, a book published by Springer in 2020.Dr. Wedekind previously served for ten years in the US Marines as a combat engineer office and civil affairs officer, reaching the rank of Major with deployments to Iraq (2009), Republic of Georgia (2010), SOUTHCOM (2011), Afghanistan (2011-2012), and with the 22d Marine Expeditionary Unit (2016). A native of Jacksonville, FL, he holds a BA in English from Wake Forest University, an Executive Master's degree in Emergency and Disaster Management from Georgetown University, and doctorate (PhD) in Defence & Security from Cranfield University (UK).