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The Opportunity
In this dramatic new perspective on international affairs, Richard N. Haass, one of the country's most brilliant analysts and able foreign policy practitioners, argues that it is hard to overstate the significance of there being no major power conflict in the world. America's great military, economic, and political power discourages traditional challenges; no ideological fault line divides the world into warring blocs. India, China, Japan, Russia, and Europe all seek a prolonged period of stability that would support economic growth.
The opportunity thus exists for unprecedented cooperation among the major powers. This is good, because they share vulnerabilities. Globalization, which promotes trade and investment and eases travel and communication, also facilitates the spread of viruses (human and computer alike), weapons, terrorists, greenhouse gases, and drugs. And the United States, for all its strength, cannot defeat these threats alone.
But opportunity is not inevitability. The question is whether the United States will be able to integrate other countries into global efforts against terrorism, the spread of nuclear weapons, genocide, and protectionist policies that jeopardize global economic prosperity. This compelling book explains why it must and how it can.
The opportunity thus exists for unprecedented cooperation among the major powers. This is good, because they share vulnerabilities. Globalization, which promotes trade and investment and eases travel and communication, also facilitates the spread of viruses (human and computer alike), weapons, terrorists, greenhouse gases, and drugs. And the United States, for all its strength, cannot defeat these threats alone.
But opportunity is not inevitability. The question is whether the United States will be able to integrate other countries into global efforts against terrorism, the spread of nuclear weapons, genocide, and protectionist policies that jeopardize global economic prosperity. This compelling book explains why it must and how it can.
272 pages, Paperback
First published May 31, 2005
About the author
Richard N. Haass
42 books294 followersDr. Richard Nathan Haass is in his fourteenth year as president of the Council on Foreign Relations, an independent, nonpartisan membership organization, think tank, publisher and educational institution dedicated to being a resource to help people better understand the world and the foreign policy choices facing the United States and other countries.
In 2013, he served as the chair of the multiparty negotiations in Northern Ireland that provided the foundation for the 2014 Stormont House Agreement. For his efforts to promote peace and conflict resolution, he received the 2013 Tipperary International Peace Award.
From January 2001 to June 2003, Dr. Haass was director of policy planning for the Department of State, where he was a principal advisor to Secretary of State Colin Powell. Confirmed by the U.S. Senate to hold the rank of ambassador, Dr. Haass also served as U.S. coordinator for policy toward the future of Afghanistan and U.S. envoy to the Northern Ireland peace process. In recognition of his service, he received the State Department’s Distinguished Honor Award.
Dr. Haass has extensive additional government experience. From 1989 to 1993, he was special assistant to President George H.W. Bush and senior director for Near East and South Asian affairs on the staff of the National Security Council. In 1991, Dr. Haass was awarded the Presidential Citizens Medal for his contributions to the development and articulation of U.S. policy during Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. Previously, he served in the Departments of State (1981–1985) and Defense (1979–1980), and was a legislative aide in the U.S. Senate.
Dr. Haass also was vice president and director of foreign policy studies at the Brookings Institution, the Sol M. Linowitz visiting professor of international studies at Hamilton College, a senior associate at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, a lecturer in public policy at the Harvard Kennedy School, and a research associate at the International Institute for Strategic Studies. A Rhodes scholar, Dr. Haass holds a bachelor’s degree from Oberlin College and master’s and doctorate degrees from Oxford University. He has also received numerous honorary degrees.
Dr. Haass is the author or editor of thirteen books on American foreign policy and one book on management. His latest book is A World in Disarray: American Foreign Policy and the Crisis of the Old Order, published in 2017 by Penguin Press.
In 2013, he served as the chair of the multiparty negotiations in Northern Ireland that provided the foundation for the 2014 Stormont House Agreement. For his efforts to promote peace and conflict resolution, he received the 2013 Tipperary International Peace Award.
From January 2001 to June 2003, Dr. Haass was director of policy planning for the Department of State, where he was a principal advisor to Secretary of State Colin Powell. Confirmed by the U.S. Senate to hold the rank of ambassador, Dr. Haass also served as U.S. coordinator for policy toward the future of Afghanistan and U.S. envoy to the Northern Ireland peace process. In recognition of his service, he received the State Department’s Distinguished Honor Award.
Dr. Haass has extensive additional government experience. From 1989 to 1993, he was special assistant to President George H.W. Bush and senior director for Near East and South Asian affairs on the staff of the National Security Council. In 1991, Dr. Haass was awarded the Presidential Citizens Medal for his contributions to the development and articulation of U.S. policy during Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. Previously, he served in the Departments of State (1981–1985) and Defense (1979–1980), and was a legislative aide in the U.S. Senate.
Dr. Haass also was vice president and director of foreign policy studies at the Brookings Institution, the Sol M. Linowitz visiting professor of international studies at Hamilton College, a senior associate at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, a lecturer in public policy at the Harvard Kennedy School, and a research associate at the International Institute for Strategic Studies. A Rhodes scholar, Dr. Haass holds a bachelor’s degree from Oberlin College and master’s and doctorate degrees from Oxford University. He has also received numerous honorary degrees.
Dr. Haass is the author or editor of thirteen books on American foreign policy and one book on management. His latest book is A World in Disarray: American Foreign Policy and the Crisis of the Old Order, published in 2017 by Penguin Press.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
April 1, 2016
A good book. In this book. Haas explains how the US can change world policy, how it can make the world better.
Integeration is the key of change. US should cooperate with its enemies and even should get other states to be engaged. Haas applied his idea to current issues as North korea missile crisis and russian hegemony seek, and he came to conclusion regarding these problems.
In my opinion, I wanted the book not to be " How US can change the history? but rather " Why US has to change the history?" . I don't want model answers such as for world peace and human rights. US knows well how can world problems be solved but it cares most about its INTERESTS. How can we get the US act like the world's protector?
Integeration is the key of change. US should cooperate with its enemies and even should get other states to be engaged. Haas applied his idea to current issues as North korea missile crisis and russian hegemony seek, and he came to conclusion regarding these problems.
In my opinion, I wanted the book not to be " How US can change the history? but rather " Why US has to change the history?" . I don't want model answers such as for world peace and human rights. US knows well how can world problems be solved but it cares most about its INTERESTS. How can we get the US act like the world's protector?
June 26, 2011
A haunting read given the close of the Arab spring, the current Greek debt crisis and fear of contagion through the EU, and whisperings that "cyber terrorism" attacks originated in China.
Haass' prediction in 2005: "...the Middle East [cannot] afford to wait for democracy before it can achieve peace" reads like a red flag six years later as the world sits on its hands to determine whether Egypt will fall to a party strongly aligned with the Muslim Brotherhood or if a moderate party will assume leadership. Haass' discussion lead me to further conviction that the Presidency Bush "wasted" the golden opportunity and that he is too eloquently diplomatic to imply.
Haass' book is a great quick and dirty overview of the US foreign policy, readers may find the sections on the growth of China and the success of the EU dated. But he makes some valid points on the the reliance of Western nations on America's military prowess, the applicability of NATO, whether the UN serves as the best model for decision making, and the dubious motives of the US' participation in WTO. Readers looking for an in-depth, thorough discussion on any points will be disappointed.
I gave the book a 3/5 mostly because I thought Haass should have taken stronger stances on the issues he raises, particularly on the US war on Iraq and the potential threat of China. I was also disappointed that he did not address a section exclusively to Latin America , especially border relations with Mexico, the emergency of the Brazilian economy, and the fate of Chavez and Castro. Nor did Haass discuss Sub-Saharan Africa in any meaningful way. The book could have been 50 pages longer and would have been a more complete discussion.
Haass' prediction in 2005: "...the Middle East [cannot] afford to wait for democracy before it can achieve peace" reads like a red flag six years later as the world sits on its hands to determine whether Egypt will fall to a party strongly aligned with the Muslim Brotherhood or if a moderate party will assume leadership. Haass' discussion lead me to further conviction that the Presidency Bush "wasted" the golden opportunity and that he is too eloquently diplomatic to imply.
Haass' book is a great quick and dirty overview of the US foreign policy, readers may find the sections on the growth of China and the success of the EU dated. But he makes some valid points on the the reliance of Western nations on America's military prowess, the applicability of NATO, whether the UN serves as the best model for decision making, and the dubious motives of the US' participation in WTO. Readers looking for an in-depth, thorough discussion on any points will be disappointed.
I gave the book a 3/5 mostly because I thought Haass should have taken stronger stances on the issues he raises, particularly on the US war on Iraq and the potential threat of China. I was also disappointed that he did not address a section exclusively to Latin America , especially border relations with Mexico, the emergency of the Brazilian economy, and the fate of Chavez and Castro. Nor did Haass discuss Sub-Saharan Africa in any meaningful way. The book could have been 50 pages longer and would have been a more complete discussion.
July 14, 2011
Even though this book was written 6 years ago, his common sense policy suggestions would still be very successful today. Many of the negative things that Haass warned about when he wrote this book (anti-Americanism, unilateralism, terrorism, etc) are still issues that American is having difficulty dealing with now. The areas where America has had its greatest success in these six years are in areas where we take his advice... getting more involved in the international community and treating other countries as equals who have something to share, as opposed to lesser powers who have something to give us.
June 5, 2007
Haass's key word is integration--through partnering, engaging and motivating others
November 3, 2009
If you read only one book about how to attune US foreign policy to today's world...
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews