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The American Era

Power and Strategy for the 21st Century

Robert J Lieber author

Format:Paperback

Publisher:Cambridge University Press

Published:22nd Jan '07

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The American Era cover

This controversial book addresses America's role in light of recent terrorist events.

This controversial book addresses the world role America has begun to undertake in light of recent terrorist events. The book argues that if America does not respond actively to terrorist threats, no one else will take the initiative.The American Era makes a provocative argument about America's world role. It sets out the case for a grand strategy that recognizes American preponderance as necessary and desirable for coping with the perils of the post-9/11 world. The book argues firstly that, Militant Islamic terrorism and weapons of mass destruction pose a threat which requires us to alter the way we think about the pre-emptive and preventive use of force. Secondly, the UN and other international bodies are incapable of acting on these urgent problems. Thirdly, in an international system with no true central authority other countries will inevitably look for leadership to the US. The book argues that if America does not respond actively to terrorist threats, no one else will take the initiative.

'[The American Era is] a wonderful, elegant and compelling analysis in every respect … It will become compulsory reading on my Masters US Foreign Policy course next year and, I believe, should be read - and hopefully understood! - by anyone interested in American foreign policy. It really represents a magnificent achievement and is a work of exemplary scholarship. I hope and trust it receives the positive impact, reviews and sales that it thoroughly deserves.' Robert Singh, Birkbeck College, University of London
'We can only hope other books, whatever their normative agenda, will follow this example.' Political Science
'The writing is refreshingly free of jargon - a fault of much of the literature written in opposition to Lieber's thesis. His case is argued to strong, non-partisan effect. His examples are telling. The overall impact is to restructure the debate over recent American foreign policy along lines that are calm, analytical, and scholarly. We can only hope other books, whatever their normative agenda, will follow this example.' Japanese Journal of Political Science

ISBN: 9780521697385

Dimensions: 229mm x 153mm x 21mm

Weight: 421g

306 pages