Following last week's review of Gaddis' biography on George Kennan, one of America's greatest Cold−War era statesmen, this week's review features a book by another great Cold War strategist: President Jimmy Carter's National Security Advisor, ZbgniewBrzezinski. Don't be fooled by its relative brevity, "Strategic Vision" is a little gem of foreign policy analysis and a stirring call to action. It is a thorough, articulate evaluation of the decline of America's influence and the dangers therein. Brzezinski offers an astute, piercing appraisal of the waning of America's "global appeal" and the severe consequences of the shifting of power from West to East.
Despite filling the vacuum left after the fall of the Soviet Union and providing critical leadership during the 1990s, the West, especially the United States, is tottering as a global superpower. Brzezinski looks carefully at this shifting redistribution in global power as the West recedes in relative dominance, making way for the nations of Asia, Africa and Latin America, so long relegated to the periphery of political calculations and now seized by a sense of their own political maturity.
He expresses great concern that American idealism and constructive materialism (vs. consumptive materialism), the twin motivations for a strong, dynamic American republic, are waning. America's own domestic realm is in disrepair; and its populace is increasingly indolent and, frankly, ignorant about the outside world. Weakened further by its expensive interference in Afghanistan and Iraq, the U.S. is now seen as a negative influence on world affairs instead of the guardian of peace that it once was. Meanwhile, the sun is rising in the East, and Brzezinski looks at growth in China, Japan, Turkey, Russia and India. He also indicates other hotspots that make up the "geopolitically most endangered states," such as Taiwan, Ukraine, Belarus, Afghanistan and Israel, which could be the pinnacle of future conflicts.
In an increasingly unstable world, Brzezinski suggests, the United States remains, in the words of the former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, the "indispensable nation." He views many of the future great powers, such as India, China, Russia and Turkey, as requiring more development, being plagued by too many internal problems of their own to become viable world leaders. Thus, the U.S. has a critically important role to play in world affairs for at least another two generations, says Brzezinski. Though no longer a hegemonic"hyperpower," America remains essential, in his view, to promoting "a larger and more vital West."
Ultimately, Brzezinski provides a powerful cautionary tale with his prescription for a happy ending. If the United States continues on the path of political expediency, global ignorance and strategic overextension while neglecting pressing problems of domestic economy, political morale and a restoration of national idealism, Brzezinski fears that the consequences for both the United States and the world could be dire. However, by harnessing its overall strengths in terms of economic, social and political status, superiority of higher education, rich natural resources and population resiliency (the United States ranks as one of the few industrialized nations with overall net population growth), America can indeed rise to the occasion and become a positive influence on world affairs again.
In his crisp, systematic fashion, Brzezinski offers in turn pointed criticism and rational, compelling solutions to many of America's challenges in domestic and foreign policy. His arguments are not so much inspiring as rational, dispassionate and incredibly persuasive. His penetrating insights and acute analysis of many of America's and the world's greatest strategic issues provide the college student with something to think about regarding the future of the current political−economic system and therefore the value of their education. This book is accessible and an important read for anyone, but a must−read for aspiring political scientists. Rating: ****
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James Barasch is a sophomore majoring in history. He can be contacted at James.Barasch@tufts.edu.
