First published 1966
George Kennan examines the dangerous misconceptions that plague American foreign policy in the modern era. He argues that the United States has pursued unrealistic strategies that repeatedly threaten global stability. Kennan believes the primary challenge facing international politics today involves discovering methods that allow necessary changes to occur without constantly disrupting world peace. He analyzes the harsh realities of Soviet territorial expansion and the chaotic forces operating throughout non-communist nations. The author warns against America's tendency to rely on inflexible military approaches and its habit of overestimating what the United Nations and similar peacekeeping organizations can accomplish. Kennan criticizes the American tendency to view international relations as a mechanical system rather than recognizing its organic nature. He maintains that the most effective solutions to America's external challenges will emerge from focusing on internal national development, since foreign policy ultimately reflects the values and objectives of American society itself.
Genres: international-relations, 20th-century, american, political-science, non-fiction, 21st-century, academic, american-history
Vibes: thought-provoking
Tropes: gritty
Setting: United States, Soviet Union
Period: Modern Era
132 pages · Paperback · W. W. Norton & Company