Publisher Description
America has a long history of diplomacy–ranging from Benjamin Franklin, Alexander Hamilton, and Thomas Jefferson to Henry Kissinger, Ronald Reagan, and James Baker–now is your chance to see the impact these Americans have had on the world.
Recounting the actors and events of U.S. foreign policy, Zoellick identifies five traditions that have emerged from America’s encounters with the world: the importance of North America; the special roles trading, transnational, and technological relations play in defining ties with others; changing attitudes toward alliances and ways of ordering connections among states; the need for public support, especially through Congress; and the belief that American policy should serve a larger purpose. These traditions frame a closing review of post-Cold War presidencies, which Zoellick foresees serving as guideposts for the future.
Both a sweeping work of history and an insightful guide to U.S. diplomacy past and present, America in the World serves as an informative companion and practical adviser to readers seeking to understand the strategic and immediate challenges of U.S. foreign policy during an era of transformation.
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Robert Zoellick’s AMERICA IN THE WORLD both educates and entertains. Unlike many other sweeping works of history, Zoellick puts his subjects — rather than theories or frameworks — at the center of his book, using stories to both captivate his reader and illuminate meaningful trends in American diplomacy. He presents a different and compelling lens through which to consider nearly two centuries of American foreign policy — that of pragmatism. As a diplomat, historian, and pragmatist himself, Zoellick identifies enduring U.S. foreign policy traditions and offers a welcome reminder that for much of the country’s history, the perception of American exceptionalism has animated U.S. actions in the world, mostly for good. At a time when the global order is under such strain, AMERICA IN THE WORLD provides a much-needed anchor to those who are rethinking America’s role in the world and will be responsible for crafting it.
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Meghan L. O’Sullivan, Jeane Kirkpatrick Professor of the Practice of International Affairs and author of Windfall
