First published 2008
America's position as the dominant global power faces unprecedented challenges. Two former National Security Advisors from opposite political parties sit down for candid discussions about the nation's foreign policy dilemmas. Zbigniew Brzezinski, who served under Carter, and Brent Scowcroft, who advised Ford and Bush, examine the most pressing international issues confronting the United States. Their conversations cover the Middle East crisis, rising tensions with Russia and China, America's relationship with Europe, the developing world's growing influence, and what Brzezinski terms the global political awakening. Despite their partisan differences, both men recognize that America must adjust to a transformed international landscape. Their disagreements produce sharp but informed exchanges that illuminate the complexity of modern diplomacy. The discussions reveal how America's choices in the coming years will determine whether it maintains its superpower status or cedes influence to emerging rivals.
Genres: international-relations, american, non-fiction, 21st-century, current-affairs, american-history
Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, unreliable-narrator
Setting: United States, Middle East, Russia, China, Europe
Period: 21st Century
304 pages · Hardcover · Basic Books