First published 2010
The September 11 attacks have transformed how America approaches international relations, forcing policymakers to grapple with the role of faith in foreign affairs. Multiple voices emerge from government corridors, think tanks, and religious institutions, each wrestling with fundamental questions about moral conviction versus strategic necessity. Some argue that religious principles can guide more ethical policies toward other nations. Others warn that faith-based approaches risk breeding dangerous extremism. The debate intensifies as America faces choices about military action, economic pressure, and humanitarian assistance around the globe. Traditional allies question Washington's motives while enemies exploit religious divisions. At the center of this struggle lies a deeper question that haunts every decision maker: whether spiritual beliefs represent a path toward realistic engagement with global forces or a dangerous distraction from hard truths about power and national interest.
Genres: history, international-relations, american, political-science, non-fiction, 21st-century, current-affairs, academic
Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, unreliable-narrator
Setting: America, Washington
Period: September 11, 21st Century
119 pages · ebook · Brookings Institution Press