First published 2004
Charles Krauthammer presents his vision for American foreign policy in the post-Cold War era. He dissects four competing approaches that shape diplomatic thinking: isolationism, liberal internationalism, realism, and democratic globalism. Krauthammer weighs the strengths and weaknesses of each school before proposing his own synthesis. His democratic realism combines practical power politics with selective democracy promotion. America should encourage democratic values globally, he argues, but deploy military force and resources only where strategic interests align with the broader struggle against radical Islamic extremism. The book emerged from Krauthammer's Irving Kristol Lecture at the American Enterprise Institute in February 2004. It offers readers a framework for understanding how America can best use its dominant position while confronting threats to global freedom and stability.
Genres: history, american, political-science, politics, non-fiction, 21st-century, academic, american-history
Vibes: thought-provoking
Tropes: expert-analysis, ideological-framework
Period: Post-Cold War Era
Paperback · AEI Press