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The World America Made (2012)

by Robert Kagan(Favorite Author)

3.72 of 5 Votes: 1

ISBN

0307961311 (ISBN13: 9780307961310)

languge

English

genre

History & Biography

publisher

Knopf

review 1: Kagan's books are always worthwhile. In this short, easy read, Kagan examines the question that seems to be on everyone's mind, whether American power is declining, and what a post-American world might look like. He points out that the modern order, of general peace, prosperity and open trade, is largely due to the power that America has exercised over the last six decades, post World War II. That the modern liberal, democratic order is not the result of human evolution, but the result of actual choices that American policymakers have made, and that without the support of a core of American hegemony, that the modern order would collapse. He also argues that American power is not in decline, has always faced challenges, and should have no real competition in the foresee... moreable future. If America chooses decline, or if it is forced into decline abroad due to political disorder at home, then the new order would likely be much less amenable to democratic regimes, to free-trade, and to peace in general. "If one wants a more liberal order, there may be no substitute for powerful liberal nations to build and defend it. International order is not an evolution; it is an imposition. It is the domination of one vision over others -- in this case, the domination of liberal principles of economics, domestic politics, and international relations over other, nonliberal principles. It will last only as long as those who imposed it retain the capacity to defend it."
review 2: The story of how America made the world is one filled with doubt and questionable actions. Mr. Kagan argues that the world America made is one that didn't always look favorable on America. He explains that most of the world before the 20th century was not pro-democracy and instead believed in autocracy as the way to govern it's people.The book is mostly written with the idea in mind of what the world would be like if America didn't have such a strong influence in the world, or as of what he argues also, the decline in America's superpower.It is well to reason about what the world would be like, if and when, America's superpower and influence in the world begins to decline. What would that mean for everyone else that relies on the US for help, which most nations in the world do. It is unreasonable to think that the US can be the superpower forever because we more democracies come into practice, the more nations are able to grow, and with growth comes more influence from their country on the global stage.The outline of the book begins with the 17th century of how Americans' created their way of life and beliefs. This pushing away from another country, British Law, and creating their own free-spirit way of living enabled American's to believe that truth and freedom are their core beliefs, beliefs that have slowly been stripped away today by our new way of living and court systems. Every other country usually grew up in a system where they had to follow certain laws and be dictated to in their life, whereas, Americans had the opposite; we decided our futures and how we wanted to live. Thanks to the geniuses of the men who built america, the world paid attention to us, which allowed us to have the influence we have become to used to have in the world. We created empires and industries that most other nations never thought of and because of that, it gave us the position of power in which to help and work with other nations.As every other nations continues to grow, the US's only support in influence in the world stands from it's strong military around the world. No other nation on earth has the same kind of power that the US does, which is why most Americans' are irritated by how desert countries (the middle east) can have such a strong effect on our way of life.For anyone interested in learning what the world would be life, if and when, America's decline happens, then this is a good book to sit down and read. It's very dense at parts but reads fairly quickly. less

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