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The Paradox of American Power: Why the World's Only Superpower Can't Go It Alone
Not since the Roman Empire has any nation had as much economic, cultural, and military power as the United States does today. Yet, as has become all too evident through the terrorist attacks of September 11th and the impending threat of the acquisition of nuclear weapons by Iran, that power is not enough to solve global problems--like terrorism, environmental degradation, ...more
Paperback, 240 pages
Published
May 1st 2003
by Oxford University Press
(first published 2002)
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Fed up with so many people talking about 'soft power'? I know what you're talking about. Soft power became such a loose concept in daily political/diplomatic use that it lost much of its credit and explanatory power. Although this book is not the one in which Nye coined the idea of soft power, it is certainly where he applies it best. A great read for anyone who wants to understand why Bush got it wrong.
My review from the San Francisco Chronicle in 2002:
The United States' role on the world stage
Nye argues we should use 'soft power' of influence, not just military might
Reviewed by Steve Kettmann
Sunday, March 24, 2002
The Paradox
of American Power
Why the World's Only Superpower Can't Go It Alone
By Joseph S. Nye Jr.
OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS; 222 PAGES; $26
-----------------------------...more
The United States' role on the world stage
Nye argues we should use 'soft power' of influence, not just military might
Reviewed by Steve Kettmann
Sunday, March 24, 2002
The Paradox
of American Power
Why the World's Only Superpower Can't Go It Alone
By Joseph S. Nye Jr.
OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS; 222 PAGES; $26
-----------------------------...more
A good working-paper on the case for a multilateral approach for U.S. foreign policy. I would first like to say tht I agree with most, if not all, of what Mr. Nye wrote. The reason why I gave this only four stars though is because he tends to lose his main point of explaining why we need a multilateral approach to foreign policy. He tends to dive into the aspects of our changing world, specifically the Information Revolution and Globalization, which seem important to his overall thesis, but he s...more
The book is unsurprisingly dated having been written not long after 9/11. But much of what he has to say is still worth hearing. He discusses the difference between soft and hard power, when each is called for, and how to balance unilateralism and multilateralism in foreign policy. Many politicians (and citizens) could still learn from his discussion of immigration--a liberal immigration policy is what could save us from the coming fate of other developed countries with declining and aging...more
Nye’s treatise on the declining influence of today’s hegemony is quite timely given the contentious political landscape of our times. Indeed, The Paradox of American Power: Why the World’s Only Superpower Can’t Go it Alone attempts to contextualise the consequences of the Bush Administration’s unilateralist policies and reminds the reader the subtle benefits of soft power. This book reminds me of former Canadian foreign minister, Lloyd Axworthy’s venture into the same fray a couple of years ago....more
This book is as valid today as it was before we started the current wars. It is basically an application of his Soft Power premise to current events. Clearly, its recommendations were not heeded and I'm sure Mr. Nye has been seething for the past few years, but perhaps this new administration can reestablish diplomatic and economic leadership and return to the multilateralism so desperately needed to solve our global problems--economic, social, and environmental.
Slightly outdated in some of the analysis due to 2002 release, but relevant and insightful none the less. For anyone not ridiculously nationalistic, and open to the idea of a waning US supremacy (not to be confused with an overturn of US power), this book is perfect to help realize why and how we should start shaping our governmental policy and interaction with the world to not only create a better life for ourselves (assuming you are American), but a better life for the global community. Wou...more
This book came about when I was in my International Relations/Affairs phase a few years ago. I went to a lecture regarding working abroad and the speaker suggested this author. It is quite interesting as he explains historically superpowers have been cyclical and how the US is at it's downward part of the cycle. The Author gives reasoning for his belief that China or India are poised to adopt the top position in the next generation and explains how "power" is really made up of a few...more
yah, yg ini mah mao gk mau harus gw baca, biar lulus semester 5.
to be honest, ini keadaan Amerika sekarang.
kata siapa, negara sebesar AS gk ketar-ketir ngeliat keadaan ky sekarang ??
apalg Indonesia !?? haha. *falsifikasi.
to be honest, ini keadaan Amerika sekarang.
kata siapa, negara sebesar AS gk ketar-ketir ngeliat keadaan ky sekarang ??
apalg Indonesia !?? haha. *falsifikasi.
Very good, but I wish I had read it when it first came out in 2002 as most of the impact of the book's claims were lost due to already having been proven true by events.
If you've taken an international relations class before reading this book, you'll love it. If you haven't, well then I don't know what to tell you
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.
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