Choice
Copyright American Library Association, used with permission.

In light of the relative decline of US political and economic influence in the world, what are America's fundamental foreign policy interests and how should it pursue them? In his 1998 book on grand strategy, The Grand Chessboard, Brzezinski set forth a vision of America's global role in the 21st century based on the country's geopolitical hegemony. In his new book, written 14 years later, Brzezinski (Johns Hopkins Univ.) assesses the implications of America's decline and the shift in political and economic influence from the West to the East. He argues that the shifting balance of power in the world poses significant challenges not only to the US but also to the international community. He suggests that American leadership can play an important role in managing international relations in this time of crisis by, among other things, protecting vulnerable states, advancing global peace and prosperity, and helping to regulate the global commons. If America is to carry out such responsibilities, however, it must devise a "strategic vision" and pursue a program of national renewal. This well-written, geostrategic analysis of international relations is strongly recommended for all libraries. Summing Up: Highly recommended. All readership levels. M. Amstutz Wheaton College