First published 2019
America once served as the world's defender of liberal democracy and freedom. Nations across continents relied on the United States to champion Western values and oppose authoritarian rule. Even when America fell short of its ideals, it acknowledged their significance both domestically and internationally. Bernard-Henri Lévy presents a stark analysis of today's shifting global order. He argues that America is abandoning its traditional leadership position, creating space for five ambitious powers to assert themselves. Russia, China, Turkey, Iran, and Sunni radical Islamism now challenge the liberal principles that defined Western civilization. Lévy traces this crisis beyond Donald Trump's presidency, finding its origins in ancient history. He draws from historical lessons and cultural foundations to illuminate the dangers facing the West. The book serves as an urgent warning about what happens when democratic leadership retreats. Lévy offers readers a framework for understanding how the West might forge a new path forward to preserve its core principles.
Genres: history, political-science, politics, non-fiction, 21st-century, current-affairs, academic, american-history
Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: gritty, informed-consent
Setting: America, China, Iran, Russia, Turkey
Period: Ancient History
261 pages · Hardcover · Henry Holt and Co.