Strategic Vision: America and the Crisis of Global Power

by Zbigniew Brzezinski

Overview

Eminent scholar Zbigniew Brzezinski's New York Times bestselling blueprint for American foreign policy strategy in the twenty-first century

The world today faces a crisis of power, caused by the dramatic shift in its center of gravity from the West to the East, by the dynamic political awakening of people worldwide, and by the deterioration of America's performance both domestically and internationally. As a result, America's position as a world superpower is far from secure.

In Strategic Vision, former National Security Advisor Zbigniew Brzezinski argues that America can and should be actively engaged in navigating this period of crisis and provides a strategic blueprint for America to revitalize its global status and promote a peaceful twenty-first century. As Brzezinski eloquently shows, without an America that is economically vital, socially appealing, responsibly powerful, and capable of sustaining an intelligent foreign engagement, the geopolitical prospects for the West could become increasingly grave.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780465061815
Publisher:	Basic Books
Publication date:	09/10/2013
Edition description:	First Trade Paper Edition
Pages:	240
Sales rank:	739,989
Product dimensions:	5.40(w) x 8.10(h) x 0.70(d)
Age Range:	13 - 18 Years

About the Author

Zbigniew Brzezinski (1928-2017) was National Security Adviser to President Jimmy Carter, a counselor and trustee at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, and a professor of American foreign policy at Johns Hopkins University. He is the author of New York Times bestsellers Second Chance and Strategic Vision, among many other books.

Table of Contents

List of Maps and Figures vii

Introduction 1

Part 1 The Receding West 7

1 The Emergence of Global Power 8

2 The Rise of Asia and the Dispersal of Global Power 16

3 The Impact of Global Political Awakening 26

Part 2 The Waning of the American Dream 37

1 The Shared American Dream 37

2 Beyond Self-Delusion 46

3 America's Residual Strengths 55

4 America's Long Imperial War 64

Part 3 The World After America: By 2025, not Chinese but Chaotic 75

1 The Post-America Scramble 76

2 The Geopolitically Most Endangered States 89

3 The End of a Good Neighborhood 103

4 The Uncommon Global Commons 110

Part 4 Beyond 2025: A New Geopolitical Balance 121

1 Eurasia's Geopolitical Volatility 123

2 A Larger and Vital West 132

3 A Stable and Cooperative New East 155

Conclusion: America's Dual Role 183

Acknowledgments 193

Notes 195

Index 197

What People are Saying About This

Jimmy Carter

“Brzezinski’s latest book reflects his talent for unraveling complex historical issues and his strength in advocating long-term solutions for them.”
— Jimmy Carter, former U.S. President

Robert M. Gates

“A much-needed wake-up call regarding the international repercussions if America fails to address its multiple domestic crises successfully. . . . Thoughtful—and, as usual, provocative and timely.”
— Robert M. Gates, former U.S. Secretary of Defense

From the Publisher

Jimmy Carter, 39th President of the United States of America
“Brzezinski’s latest book reflects his talent for unraveling complex historical issues and his strength in advocating long-term solutions for them.” 

Senator John Kerry“Strategic Vision is a clear, vivid look at America’s place in the world today. Rather than surrender to defeatist speculation about the perceived end to the American Century, Zbigniew Brzezinski’s reality-based insights explore how the United States can move forward over the next two decades. This is a must-read for a straightforward assessment of the challenges of today and tomorrow and the unique strengths America brings to the global stage.” Senator Richard G. Lugar, State of Indiana; Ranking Member of and Former Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee“Informed by a lifetime of comprehensive scholarship and many years of responsibility on the front lines of our diplomacy and national security, Zbigniew Brzezinski provides in Strategic Vision a comprehensive blueprint for successful planning and action. His challenge to the U.S. to be a sophisticated leader of a vital democratic-enlarged zone in the West and a promoter of stability in the East is timely and persuasive.” Leslie H. Gelb, President Emeritus of the Council on Foreign Relations and former New York Times columnist“One of America's precious few master strategists paints a convincing picture of an increasingly messy world ahead and presents a U.S. policy to manage it — going to strength by building an expanded Europe and keeping a burgeoning Asia stable. Succinct, sharp, and sensible.” Robert M. Gates, U.S. Secretary of Defense, 2006-2011 “Strategic Vision is a much-needed wake-up call regarding the international repercussions if America fails to address its multiple domestic crises successfully. A realist but not a pessimist, Brzezinski offers a thoughtful—and, as usual, provocative and timely—must-read for all who are concerned about the future of our country at home and abroad.” Jim Wolfensohn, former President of the World Bank, 1995-2005
“The author has given us a powerful and dynamic examination of our history, the current challenges and the probable changes in the economic, political and environmental balance on our plant. He analyzes the current situation in key countries and thereafter presents the issues we are likely to face in 2050 in a world divided between a dominant East and a challenged West. This is an insightful, provocative and stimulating analysis that should be read by all concerned with global stability and growth.” Joseph S. Nye, Jr. Professor at Harvard and author of The Future of Power“Zbigniew Brzezinski combines theoretical acuity with unmatched practical experience to provide a provocative and compelling portrait of the future along with a convincing map to navigate it.” Kirkus Reviews
“[Brzezinski] offers an astute, elegant appraisal of the waning of America’s ‘global appeal’ and the severe consequences of the shifting of power from West to East….Brzezinski provides a powerful cautionary tale….An urgent call for ‘historic renewal’ by one of America’s sharpest minds.”
Michiko Kakutani, New York Times“…provocative… a clear-eyed, sharp-tongued assessment of this hinge moment in time, when the world’s center of gravity is shifting “from the West to the East.” David Ignatius, Washington Post“…a bracing discussion of what a revival of U.S. power would actually require over the next few decades…” Foreign Affairs“In this crisp and stimulating book, Brzezinski speculates on the dangers that could result from the decline of the United States and oªers his prescriptions to restore American leadership in a changing world.” The Diplomat (Asia)“Zbigniew Brzezinski… has written another important book.” e-International Relations, International Politics website“Brzezinski presents a masterfully written…vision for the future of geopolitics and America’s role in the world.” Midwest Book Review“Any political studies holding should have this!” Today’s Zaman (Turkey)“[Brzezinski] puts forth a strong vision in his 200-page book. Politicians like German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Nicolas Sarkozy should read it.” Kirkus Reviews“[Brzezinski] offers an astute, elegant appraisal of the waning of America’s ‘global appeal’ and the severe consequences of the shifting of power from West to East….Brzezinski provides a powerful cautionary tale….An urgent call for ‘historic renewal’ by one of America’s sharpest minds.”
Daily Beast“The central message of Strategic Vision is how much more ghastly it will be on all fronts if America cannot urgently mobilize a national will for renewal.” Michigan War Studies Review“This short book, crammed with facts and acute analysis well presents Zbigniew Brzezinski's considered ‘strategic vision’ of the future world and the changed but still vital leadership role of the United States.” The New Republic“When it comes to offering a vision to guide American foreign policy, Zbigniew Brzezinski’s latest book, unlike so much other literature of this type, refuses to lament or exaggerate the alleged decline in American power and influence…. [A] welcome antidote to the dreary school of ‘declinism’ now dominating much of the foreign-policy conversation.” Midwest Book Review, May 2012“Strategic Vision is a powerful documentation of the steps that must be taken to ensure continued American success.” Spiked Review of Books (online)“[R]igorous and insightful analysis …. [Brzezinski’s] realpolitik approach… is actually refreshing in today’s age of flippant air-bombing humanitarianism.”

Polish American Journal
“Once again, Brzezinski gives the reader thoughtful insight on the state of global affairs and America's place in the world. He provides a wakeup call to international affairs and their effect on this country.”

Editorial Reviews

"A clear-eyed, sharp-tongued assessment of this hinge moment in time, when the world's center of gravity is shifting 'from the West to the East.'"—New York Times

"In this crisp and stimulating book, Brzezinski speculates on the dangers that could result from the decline of the United States and offers his prescriptions to restore American leadership in a changing world."—Foreign Affairs

"A bracing discussion of what a revival of US power would actually require over the next few decades."—Washington Post

"A much-needed wake-up call regarding the international repercussions if America fails to address its multiple domestic crises successfully. ... Brzezinski offers a thoughtful — and, as usual, provocative and timely — must read."—Robert M. Gates, US Secretary of Defense, 2006-2011

From the Publisher

…in his provocative new book…[Brzezinski] provides a clear-eyed, sharp-tongued assessment of this hinge moment in time, when the world's center of gravity is shifting "from the West to the East"…Mr. Brzezinski does a cogent job here of situating America's relationships with other countries in a geopolitical and historical context. And he uses his expertise in these areas to draw a harrowing portrait of what the world might look like without a re-energized and strategic-minded United States on the global stage.
—The New York Times

Michiko Kakutani

A clear-eyed, sharp-tongued assessment of this hinge moment in time.”
—New York Times

New York Times

Jimmy Carter's national security advisor offers an astute, elegant appraisal of the waning of America's "global appeal" and the severe consequences of the shifting of power from West to East. Despite filling the vacuum left after the fall of the Soviet Union, the West is tottering as a global superpower. Brzezinski (American Foreign Policy/Johns Hopkins Univ.; Second Chance: Three Presidents and the Crisis of American Superpower, 2007, etc.) looks carefully at this shifting redistribution in global power as the West recedes, making way for entrants from Asia, Africa and Latin America, seized by their own sense of political awareness. In his crisp, systematic fashion, the author begins by examining reasons for the waning U.S. influence, offering some pointed criticism: The "durability of its leadership is increasingly questioned worldwide because of the complexity of its internal and external challenges"; its magical twin motivations of idealism and materialism are no longer viable; its own house is in disrepair; and its populace is self-deluded and, frankly, ignorant about the rest of the world. Weakened further by its unwarranted aggression in Afghanistan and Iraq, the U.S. is now seen as a negative influence, arousing animus worldwide. Meanwhile, the sun is rising in the East, and Brzezinski looks at growth in China, Japan, Turkey, Russia, India and others--though the author concludes that most are plagued by too many problems to become world leaders by 2025. Other hotspots make up the "geopolitically most endangered states," such as Georgia, Taiwan, South Korea, Belarus, Ukraine, Afghanistan, Pakistan and Israel. Ultimately, Brzezinski provides a powerful cautionary tale: By harnessing its overall strengths in terms of economic, social and political ranking, superiority of higher education, rich natural resources and population resiliency, America can indeed "rise to the occasion." An urgent call for "historic renewal" by one of America's sharpest minds.

Kirkus Reviews