by Robert Kagan
First published 2015
The fourteenth Munk Debate brings together four prominent voices to examine President Obama's international strategy. Bret Stephens and Robert Kagan argue that America's retreat from traditional leadership has created global instability. They face off against Fareed Zakaria and Anne-Marie Slaughter, who defend the administration's approach of alliance building and targeted military action. The debate centers on whether Obama's doctrine of leading from behind represents smart adaptation to a multipolar world or dangerous abdication of American responsibility. With ISIS reshaping Middle Eastern dynamics, Russia challenging Western interests, and the Israeli-Palestinian peace process stalled, the stakes couldn't be higher. The participants examine how drone warfare and special operations have replaced conventional military engagement. They consider whether this shift acknowledges new realities of distributed global power or invites authoritarian actors to undermine democracy and human rights worldwide. The debate captures a pivotal moment when America's role in international affairs hangs in the balance.
Genres: history, international-relations, american, political-science, non-fiction, 21st-century, current-affairs, academic
Vibes: suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers
Setting: Middle East, Russia, United States
Period: 21st Century
128 pages · Paperback · House of Anansi Press