Inauspicious Beginnings

The book examines the post-Cold War world, emphasizing how the United States established overwhelming power, impacting international security and institutions.

In Inauspicious Beginnings, the authors explore the geopolitical landscape that emerged after the Cold War, highlighting the expectations of a new world order. Many international experts believed that institutions like the United Nations Security Council and NATO would play crucial roles in maintaining global peace and security. However, the reality of the 1990s revealed a different narrative, characterized by widespread insecurity and humanitarian crises. This period underscored the urgent need for a more effective system of security institutions, yet the leading powers failed to establish such frameworks.

Instead, the United States emerged as the dominant force in this new order, particularly under the administrations of George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton. Rather than fostering a collaborative approach to international security, these administrations focused on building coalitions and catering to allies, often sidelining the need for a comprehensive security system. Meanwhile, other major powers were either distracted by internal issues or chose to defer to U.S. leadership, further consolidating American influence on the global stage.

As Inauspicious Beginnings illustrates, by September 11, 2001, the United Nations Security Council had become an outdated institution, ill-equipped to tackle the complex challenges it faced. The unilateral actions taken by the United States, particularly in Iraq, raised significant questions about the Council's relevance and effectiveness in the evolving international landscape.