by Robert Kagan
First published 2023
Robert Kagan examines America's evolution into a world superpower from the Spanish American War through World War II. This sequel to his previous volume chronicles how the United States grappled with a fundamental choice at the twentieth century's opening. The nation possessed growing population, expanding wealth, and emerging military strength. American leaders faced a critical decision between retreating to their protected continental borders or projecting power across oceans. Kagan traces this tension through decades of foreign policy debates. He demonstrates how America's democratic ideals created conflicting impulses toward moral leadership and political neutrality. The author reveals how these contradictions produced both strategic errors and moments of ruthless calculation. Kagan argues that American reluctance to engage internationally enabled the rise of fascist movements and authoritarian regimes. The book chronicles Europe's rapid decline as a controlling force and documents America's ascent to global leadership. Kagan dismantles the notion that isolation remained a viable option for the United States, showing how geography and ideology pulled the nation toward international responsibility.
Genres: history, 20th-century, military-history, american-history
Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: historical-drama, political-thriller
Setting: United States, Europe
Period: Spanish-American-War, World-War-II
688 pages · Hardcover · Knopf