First published 2005
The Iraq War shattered the established order of international relations. Bush and Blair, convinced of their moral mission after September 11th, launched a campaign of shock and awe that toppled Saddam Hussein's Republican Guards in weeks. But the real battle began afterward. Old Europe found itself sidelined. The United Nations fractured. Half the G8 nations discovered they no longer held influence in the new power structure. Shawcross examines how this conflict transformed Western alliances permanently and created fresh rules for global politics. He explores the consequences for Iraq's future, the shifting dynamics in Israel and the broader Middle East, and argues that the invasion marked the true beginning of 21st century international relations. Critics labeled the Bush-Blair vision imperialist, but Shawcross contends it was the unavoidable response to the September 11th attacks.
Genres: international-relations, political-science, politics, 21st-century, military-history
Vibes: suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: enemies-to-allies, moral-mission
Setting: Iraq, Middle East
Period: 21st Century
336 pages · Paperback · PublicAffairs
Content warnings: war