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Superpower: Three Choices for America's Role in the World
by
From the bestselling author of The End of the Free Market, the story of three provocative choices facing the world’s sole superpower.
Global policy expert Ian Bremmer calls for a complete rethink of America’s role in tomorrow’s world. In an increasingly volatile international environment, the question has never been more important. Bremmer explores three choices, each with ...more
Global policy expert Ian Bremmer calls for a complete rethink of America’s role in tomorrow’s world. In an increasingly volatile international environment, the question has never been more important. Bremmer explores three choices, each with ...more
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Start your review of Superpower: Three Choices for America's Role in the World
Oct 12, 2017
Tulay
rated it
it was amazing
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
read-again,
non-fiction
Have to think about it, some answers to the questions author asks are hard to answer. Keep changing my mind. Going to read some parts again before writing a review.
If you are an experienced Pol Sci major with experience in conflict countries, this book provides you nothing new or insightful. If You are new the field, it offers a diplomatic look at high level foreign policy with suggestions for operational execution- this is invaluable for you. The difficult part for the newcomers to the field has been how to operationalize the strategy.
Sadly, perhaps in hindsight, Bremmer offers suggestions that he was strictly advised against in Iraq .
All in all, not a ...more
Sadly, perhaps in hindsight, Bremmer offers suggestions that he was strictly advised against in Iraq .
All in all, not a ...more
This is a thoughtful book on political worldview, and a far better book than a reader has any reason to expect given the subject matter and given the sorry state of contemporary politics. The author is pretty unsparing on the failures of our leaders to decide what kind of country we need to be for the rest of the world, and gives three perspectives on how we should be with regards to the world at large given our economic and military strength and the apparent wishes of our people. Until I got to
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One quote from the conclusion sums up the power of this book: "...much of what Americans see, hear, and read these days is designed to persuade us that one argument is clearly superior to all others and that it's a moral outrage that others don't see it that way. Rigid opinion, self-righteously expressed, whether from liberals or conservatives, has badly damaged this country."
First key premise: America has not had a coherent foreign policy since the end of the Cold War. Second premise: there are ...more
First key premise: America has not had a coherent foreign policy since the end of the Cold War. Second premise: there are ...more
A superficial and not very academically aware overview of foreign policy challenges facing the US circa 2014. Also a roundabout defense of a lot of Obama's foreign policy choices (with criticism of the 'red line' comment thrown in for faux objectivity). Bremmer's annoying misuse of the Moneyball concept grated.
Useful especially given the current state of politics in the US. Allows for informed thinking about how America should represent itself on the global stage and why it's critical that we demand this from our politicians.
Cogently argued and more than its subject, tells you about how everything can have a compelling rationale..
Foreign-policy decisions look to be among the most daunting issues that Americans face in the next presidential election. How convenient that we have a book delivered now by Ian Bremmer that is written for us, the electorate of the United States. This fast-paced book is the ultimate self-help primer for the bewildered to assist in formulating opinions as to the desired direction for US foreign-policy in the next presidential election and beyond.
Bremmer cogently presents three alternative ...more
Bremmer cogently presents three alternative ...more
I appreciate that Bremmer is giving the three different ways to go about foreign policy as unbiased as he could and then give his opinion. I find it annoying when people don’t give their perspective.
My original answers:
1A 2C 3C 4A 5C 6A 7C 8C 9B 10A
Independent America Score: 1 (5C)
Moneyball America Score: 6 (2C, 3C, 4A, 6A, 8C, 10A)
Indispensable America Score: 3 (1A, 7C, 9B)
So after reading this book, I’m now incredibly conflicted. Bremmer really sold me on the whole Independent foreign policy ...more
My original answers:
1A 2C 3C 4A 5C 6A 7C 8C 9B 10A
Independent America Score: 1 (5C)
Moneyball America Score: 6 (2C, 3C, 4A, 6A, 8C, 10A)
Indispensable America Score: 3 (1A, 7C, 9B)
So after reading this book, I’m now incredibly conflicted. Bremmer really sold me on the whole Independent foreign policy ...more
Bremmer argues that our presidents have improvised American foreign policy since the fall of the Cold War and that we no longer have the power, prestige, resources or desire to continue. America needs an overarching strategy as we face the challenges of the next decades. He offers three options, 1. “Independent America”, 2. “Moneyball America”, or 3. “Indispensable America”. Bremmer is clear that each strategy has costs and benefits.
Why I started this book: I've been overwhelmed with library ...more
Why I started this book: I've been overwhelmed with library ...more
Bremmer puts forth an interesting notion: by failing to choose a single coherent foreign policy grand strategy since the end of the Cold War, the US has made the world, including itself, less stable and less safe. He then describes three positions the country might adopt going forward: "Independent America," which largely withdraws from the international community and invests in rebuilding itself; "Moneyball America," which employs strict cost-benefit calculations in making policy decisions to
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In “Superpower”, Ian Bremmer lays out several logical foreign policy approaches the United States could choose to follow going forward, and frames them in a way to help the reader decide for him or herself which might be the best choice. There isn’t necessarily a best or worst policy, just three different approaches, each with positives and negatives. Bremmer does not tell you what the best policy choice might be, just outlines approaches helping the reader to formulate their own decision.
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Bremmer presents three arguments for an American foreign policy path forward: Independent, moneyball, and indispensable. Tediously, and with authority, Bremmer takes on each perspective as an unabashed advocate to give the reader a full, unadulterated range of the arguments. He concludes with his choice for a path forward. This was smartly written, and convincing.
My one criticism is that Bremmer does seem to choose the independent view early on in the book as he argues it more fervently than the ...more
My one criticism is that Bremmer does seem to choose the independent view early on in the book as he argues it more fervently than the ...more
To be an interventionist or isolationist America?
Bremmer authors a great book of choices for how to view America’s role in n the world, and equips the reader to decide. The first argument reflects America as Indispensable, the sectioned—Moneyball, and the third, Independent. He provides clarity and cogency to each argument, stopping at the end of each chapter entitled by each of these choices to ask the reader to evaluate where they now stand in relation to questions designed to capture their opinion. Bremmer himself admits he believes the
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It's a great summation of the choices America has in front of it and the potential impact of each on the world and its allies.
I've sometimes asked people who are certain about what American Presidents should or should not do, if they could imagine themselves in his/her shoes, carrying that load of responsibility, and that weight of consequences, if they really can ever be so certain about what is right or wrong, in often difficult situations. Nobody has summed that all up better for me at least ...more
I've sometimes asked people who are certain about what American Presidents should or should not do, if they could imagine themselves in his/her shoes, carrying that load of responsibility, and that weight of consequences, if they really can ever be so certain about what is right or wrong, in often difficult situations. Nobody has summed that all up better for me at least ...more
Bremmer makes a great case for the need for a coherent philosophy to guide our foreign policy. He then proceeds to present three alternatives that he characterizes as Independent America, Moneyball America, and Indispensable America. Each gets its own chapter and the full weight of Bremmer's considerable ability in its support. He says his primary goal is to convince the reader of the necessity to choose a coherent philosophy, and to provide the options as he sees them, and I think he
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As a long time fan of Bremmer, I knew I had to pick up this book. His cutting wit and simple explanations of world politics and their interconnectedness won me over as a reader.
He posits that America has three options going forward. While they are all realistic options and well fleshed out, I found the best (and most convincing) writing to be present in the isolationist chapters. It could be my own bias and preference while reading. However, my thoughts are later confirmed that in the conclusion ...more
He posits that America has three options going forward. While they are all realistic options and well fleshed out, I found the best (and most convincing) writing to be present in the isolationist chapters. It could be my own bias and preference while reading. However, my thoughts are later confirmed that in the conclusion ...more
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It's a quick read - which I appreciate.
And it's not a difficult read - which I appreciate.
The vocabulary is not daunting - so this is more of a mainstream book.
Nothing real earth shattering here, but I appreciate the foreign policy mini lesson and the author's insights.
And when you consider what President Obama has done recently with Iran, you wonder if he hasn't skimmed the book.
Definitely thought provoking, and a conversation starter, without being written above the heads of the average Joe's ...more
And it's not a difficult read - which I appreciate.
The vocabulary is not daunting - so this is more of a mainstream book.
Nothing real earth shattering here, but I appreciate the foreign policy mini lesson and the author's insights.
And when you consider what President Obama has done recently with Iran, you wonder if he hasn't skimmed the book.
Definitely thought provoking, and a conversation starter, without being written above the heads of the average Joe's ...more
I was introduced to the author on "Charlie Rose" and have not stopped listening and reading him. This is a 'primer' into how Dr. Bremer thinks about the US's foreign policy choices in the world. While you may not agree with his conclusions, his perspective is a helpful tonic to the hollow banter so often heard on cable news and talk radio. Enjoy!
I teach AP Government and I plan to do a lot more with foreign policy this year. This book is a great intro to foreign policy, if you’re like me and don’t know much about it.
Compelling arguments
I found this pretty incoherent. Bremmer's larger point that one should be wary of simple solutions to complex issues is absolutely valid, and there are lots of little snippets that are interesting or that make a good point. But the overall construct of exploring three separate foreign policy visions while arguing that any one of them is better than a hybrid approach is poorly executed (full disclosure, I thought it was gimmicky going in, but tried not to be biased by that opinion).
My biggest ...more
My biggest ...more
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Very interesting overview for someone like me who has avoided as much news as possible since 2017. I was really interested to read a strong argument for all 3 points of view, not because I had trouble empathizing with any of them as it was, but because I didn't know the arguments for them (see: avoiding news).
I've always leaned towards pacificism, fewer wars the better, and let's keep our nose out of other people's business. But I'm also highly empathetic, and it kills me to sit by while other ...more
I've always leaned towards pacificism, fewer wars the better, and let's keep our nose out of other people's business. But I'm also highly empathetic, and it kills me to sit by while other ...more
A nation such as the United States cannot--and should not--improvise its foreign policy. There needs to be a model for how a superpower responds to crises; Superpower examines three such models. What's good about the book is that it begins with a quiz for the reader which is then referenced throughout the text. Also impressive is that, when discussing each of the three models, Bremmer argues as earnestly and as intelligently as he can that the model in question is the best one. This creates a
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If I were less ignorant of current affairs, I probably would have given two stars. The bits of historical overview were useful to me.
Of the three options presented, the author's choice seemed to have the weakest arguments. He didn't even really respond to the objections that he himself raised in his other chapters.
It also seems like you could choose your "moneyball" utility function to land anywhere on the continuum from isolationist to globe-trotting white knight. Having a utility function ...more
Of the three options presented, the author's choice seemed to have the weakest arguments. He didn't even really respond to the objections that he himself raised in his other chapters.
It also seems like you could choose your "moneyball" utility function to land anywhere on the continuum from isolationist to globe-trotting white knight. Having a utility function ...more
Bremmer presents three well thought out paths that the United States should choose from in pursuing our commitment to a foreign policy. While I do not agree with his personal choice as to which of the three the U.S. should make, I think he is mostly correct on the three path layout.
It is interesting to read this three year old summary, and how it applies to current affairs. Bremmer repeatedly discusses what the next president will have to decide, and here we are discussing President Trump's ...more
It is interesting to read this three year old summary, and how it applies to current affairs. Bremmer repeatedly discusses what the next president will have to decide, and here we are discussing President Trump's ...more
A pragmatic look at the options for America's future in the early 21st century as other countries (looking at you, China) vie for power and spaces traditionally held by the United States. Bremmer's three choices (Independent, Moneyball, and Indispensable) will arm respective proponents with evidence, rhetoric, and counter-arguments to articulate any of the three as viable options. The only wrong option, as Bremmer argues, is to be indecisive and choose none (or, worse, some bastardized hybrid of
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Ian Bremmer (born November 12, 1969) is an American political scientist specializing in US foreign policy, states in transition, and global political risk. He is the president and founder of Eurasia Group, a leading global political risk research and consulting firm, and a professor at Columbia University. Eurasia Group provides financial, corporate, and government clients with information and
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“Our superhero foreign policy draws rivers of taxpayer dollars toward the center, empowering Washington at the expense of local governments. It also empowers the president at the expense of Congress in ways that upset the balance that the authors of the Constitution took great pains to design.”
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“During his final year in office, at the height of the Cold War, the U.S. government posted a more than $1 billion surplus. In 2013, the federal deficit topped $680 billion, down from $1.1 trillion in 2012. As of this writing, the U.S. national debt has surpassed $18 trillion. For perspective, in 1960, the national debt was about 52 percent of the country’s gross domestic product. By 1970, that figure had fallen to 34 percent. On October 17, 2013, it passed the 100 percent mark. In other words, the national debt now exceeds the value of America’s entire economic output.”
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