by Robert Kagan
First published 2012
Robert Kagan tackles a pressing question about America's global position. The strategic thinker argues that reports of American decline are overblown, but he warns against the consequences if the United States actually withdrew from its leadership role. Kagan predicts that American retreat would trigger conflicts between rising powers competing for dominance. Democracy would suffer setbacks as Putin's Russia and authoritarian China gained influence. The free-market system that America built and maintained for six decades would weaken. Kagan draws parallels to historical collapses like the Roman Empire and the European order before World War I. His analysis challenges the idea that America should focus solely on domestic problems while abandoning its international responsibilities. The book makes the case that preserving American global leadership serves both national interests and world stability.
Genres: history, american, political-science, non-fiction, 21st-century, american-history
Vibes: thought-provoking
Tropes: informed-analysis
Setting: America, China, Russia
Period: 21st-Century
149 pages · Hardcover · Knopf