What do you think?
Rate this book
Statecraft 2.0: What America Needs to Lead in a Multipolar World
In a world that is multipolar and America has less relative power, the United States no longer has the luxury to practice statecraft badly.
The United States may still be the world's strongest country, but it now faces real challenges at both a global and regional level. The unipolar world which was dominated by America after the Cold War is gone. Unlike the Soviet Union, China is both a military and economic competitor and it is actively challenging the norms and institutions that the US used to shape an international order during and after the Cold War. Directly and indirectly, it has partners trying to undo the American-dominated order, with Russia seeking to extinguish Ukraine, and Iran trying to undermine American presence, influence, and any set of rules for the Middle East that it does not dominate.
The failures of American policy in Afghanistan and Iraq have weakened the domestic consensus for a US leadership role internationally. Traditions in US foreign policy, especially the American sense of exceptionalism, have at different points justified both withdrawal and international activism. Iraq and Afghanistan fed the instinct to withdraw and to end the "forever wars." But the folly of these US interventions did not necessarily mean that all use of force to back diplomacy or specific political ends was wrong; rather it meant in these cases, the Bush Administration failed in the most basic task of good namely, marrying objectives and means. Nothing more clearly defines effective statecraft than identifying well-considered goals and then knowing how to use all the tools of statecraft—diplomatic, economic, military, intelligence, information, cyber, scientific, education—to achieve them. But all too often American presidents have adopted goals that were poorly defined and not thought through.
In Statecraft 2.0, a significant update of the first edition, Dennis Ross explains why failing to marry objectives and means has happened so often in American foreign policy. He uses historical examples to illustrate the factors that account for this, including political pressures, weak understanding of the countries where the US has intervened, changing objectives before achieving those that have been established, relying too much on ourselves and too little on allies and partners. To be fair, there have not only been failures, there have been successes as well. Ross uses case studies to look more closely at the circumstances in which Administrations have succeeded and failed in marrying objectives and means. He distills the lessons from good cases of statecraft—German unification in NATO, the first Gulf War, the surge in Iraq 2007-8—and bad cases of statecraft—going to war in Iraq 2003, and the Obama policy toward Syria. Based on those lessons, he develops a framework for applying today a statecraft approach to our policy toward China, Iran, and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The book concludes with how a smart statecraft approach would shape policy toward the new national security challenges of climate, pandemics, and cyber.
The United States may still be the world's strongest country, but it now faces real challenges at both a global and regional level. The unipolar world which was dominated by America after the Cold War is gone. Unlike the Soviet Union, China is both a military and economic competitor and it is actively challenging the norms and institutions that the US used to shape an international order during and after the Cold War. Directly and indirectly, it has partners trying to undo the American-dominated order, with Russia seeking to extinguish Ukraine, and Iran trying to undermine American presence, influence, and any set of rules for the Middle East that it does not dominate.
The failures of American policy in Afghanistan and Iraq have weakened the domestic consensus for a US leadership role internationally. Traditions in US foreign policy, especially the American sense of exceptionalism, have at different points justified both withdrawal and international activism. Iraq and Afghanistan fed the instinct to withdraw and to end the "forever wars." But the folly of these US interventions did not necessarily mean that all use of force to back diplomacy or specific political ends was wrong; rather it meant in these cases, the Bush Administration failed in the most basic task of good namely, marrying objectives and means. Nothing more clearly defines effective statecraft than identifying well-considered goals and then knowing how to use all the tools of statecraft—diplomatic, economic, military, intelligence, information, cyber, scientific, education—to achieve them. But all too often American presidents have adopted goals that were poorly defined and not thought through.
In Statecraft 2.0, a significant update of the first edition, Dennis Ross explains why failing to marry objectives and means has happened so often in American foreign policy. He uses historical examples to illustrate the factors that account for this, including political pressures, weak understanding of the countries where the US has intervened, changing objectives before achieving those that have been established, relying too much on ourselves and too little on allies and partners. To be fair, there have not only been failures, there have been successes as well. Ross uses case studies to look more closely at the circumstances in which Administrations have succeeded and failed in marrying objectives and means. He distills the lessons from good cases of statecraft—German unification in NATO, the first Gulf War, the surge in Iraq 2007-8—and bad cases of statecraft—going to war in Iraq 2003, and the Obama policy toward Syria. Based on those lessons, he develops a framework for applying today a statecraft approach to our policy toward China, Iran, and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The book concludes with how a smart statecraft approach would shape policy toward the new national security challenges of climate, pandemics, and cyber.
- GenresPoliticsNonfiction
496 pages, Paperback
Published March 5, 2025
19 people are currently reading
68 people want to read
About the author
Dennis Ross
32 books21 followersDennis Ross, Middle East envoy for George H. W. Bush and Bill Clinton, is now a fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy. Foreign Affairs called his first book, The Missing Peace, a major contribution to the diplomatic history of the twentieth century. (from the publisher's website)"
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
November 25, 2025
Statecraft 2.0: What America Needs to Lead in a Multipolar World by Dennis Ross is a rigorous, deeply insightful examination of U.S. foreign policy in an era of shifting global power. Ross tackles one of the most pressing challenges of our time: how the United States can maintain influence and leadership in a world where it no longer has uncontested dominance.
Ross’ expertise shines through in his careful analysis of both successes and failures in American statecraft. Using case studies from German unification, the Gulf War, the Iraq surge, and the Obama administration’s Syria policy, he demonstrates the critical importance of aligning objectives with the tools of diplomacy, economic leverage, military power, intelligence, and more. His discussions are not only historically grounded but also forward looking, offering a framework for addressing contemporary challenges posed by China, Iran, and complex conflicts like the Israeli-Palestinian issue.
The book goes beyond critique to provide a prescriptive vision, exploring how smart statecraft could also tackle emergent global threats like climate change, pandemics, and cyber warfare. Ross balances clarity with depth, making complex geopolitical issues accessible without oversimplifying.
For readers interested in politics, international relations, or the inner workings of strategic decision-making, Statecraft 2.0 offers both education and actionable insight. It’s a must read for anyone concerned with America’s role in shaping the global order in the 21st century.
Ross’ expertise shines through in his careful analysis of both successes and failures in American statecraft. Using case studies from German unification, the Gulf War, the Iraq surge, and the Obama administration’s Syria policy, he demonstrates the critical importance of aligning objectives with the tools of diplomacy, economic leverage, military power, intelligence, and more. His discussions are not only historically grounded but also forward looking, offering a framework for addressing contemporary challenges posed by China, Iran, and complex conflicts like the Israeli-Palestinian issue.
The book goes beyond critique to provide a prescriptive vision, exploring how smart statecraft could also tackle emergent global threats like climate change, pandemics, and cyber warfare. Ross balances clarity with depth, making complex geopolitical issues accessible without oversimplifying.
For readers interested in politics, international relations, or the inner workings of strategic decision-making, Statecraft 2.0 offers both education and actionable insight. It’s a must read for anyone concerned with America’s role in shaping the global order in the 21st century.
May 18, 2025
Excellent review of history from an insiders perspective combined with positive steps for a better world.
May 19, 2025
Probably the most thoughtful and thought provoking book I have read in many years. Dennis is the master statesman. Now under t Rump all is likely lost. I truly fear for our nation!
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews