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Summary: Great overview of Foreign Policy
Review: Kissinger provides a great analysis of US F. Policy, as well as in what direction it should be taken. I wish my International Relations teacher used this in class! He goes over the important events of 20th century analyzing (from a realist perspective) them. He gives an image of where American policy should be taken, as well as a historical overview of the major theoretical approaches in IR. Even if you don't agree with his positions, the book is packed with substantive accounts. I def. recommend this book no any1 interested in foreign police or 20th century history. .
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Summary: Outlining the role of America in a single superpower world
Review: Kissinger systematically analyzes each global region and the challenges that the United States faces in developing a coherent foreign policy towards each. He covers Europe, Asia, the Americas, the Middle East, and (though somewhat grudgingly) Africa.
The coverage of the benefits and risks of Globalization is a must read for anyone interested in joining or opposing the current anti-Globalization movement that has caused havoc at many of the global leaders summits.
Though he does not say as much, Kissinger clearly disdained the manner in which Clinton's foreign policy was executed. Always the champion of Realpolitik, he finds many of the American excursions into foreign policy of the 90's reeking of bland Wilsonianism and to be ill-conceived and neither well thought-out nor well executed. Each reader will have to come to terms with his viewpoint in her own way.
There are many issues that America will have to deal with in the coming years and decades. South America is on the brink of either becoming an economic powerhouse or political morass. Asia is growing in economic strength and considers American hegemony distasteful. The Middle East continues to confound as it is both a gooey tarbaby and the supplier of fuel for the American economic engine. Africa remains a victim of the recent colonial period with no steady government save Nigeria. America, as the sole remaining superpower, must conduct itself so as to maximize peace and prosperity around the world. Whether we are able to do so well is the main question Kissinger poses.
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Summary: Very Good Overview
Review: Reading this book is similar to listening to a Kissinger interview, it is a bit dry, at times hard to understand the first pass over, but in the end a well thought out, accurate and inteligent set of comments. I think the biggest complaint I have with the book is that the title is misleading. The author does not argue if the U.S. needs a foreign policy, but he explains the different regions of the world and what issues effect the U.S. and how our foreign policy should take these issues into account. I took the most out of the chapters on the Middle East and Asia, but was surprised by the chapter on the America's. There was a ton of information that would help any student of American politics and what the country will be facing in the upcoming 10 - 20 years. The only other issue I had with the book was his few attempts to point out errors in American foreign policy and almost always placing the blame with the Clinton administration. Although in certain circles that is the fad thing to do, there have been a number of errors or oversights by the other administrations sense the Nixon administration which could have been used to highlight a point. The most important point in the book is that the government and people of the U.S. need to debate and develop a long term and global set of policies to take us through the next 30 years and stop the reacting to a crisis here and a crisis there. I think this is the overriding point he was making with the book. Overall the book is well written and smart. It provides an excellent introduction to the foreign policy issues in the world today. Just be prepared to work for it.
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Summary: Henry The Dissembling Fool
Review: There is little worse than Henry the Dissembling Fool and his rantings on American foreign policy, particularly given that his expertise is in assassination (Allende et al)and genocide (Timor, Cambodia, Vietnam, etc.)which require little policy, no thought, and no scruples. That's Henry. If he would write about his assignation with Pinochet, that might be of interest, but his lectures on what America should do in the world, a quarter century after he gratefully left formal power, are immensely irrelevant.
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Summary: Good Kissinger, Bad Kissinger
Review: This book left me with the thought of how nice it would have been to have attended a Prof. Kissinger lecture before he became "The Kissinger." That's the one that is always auditioning for a new Republican administration, and who can't stand not having his views followed to the letter. This book gives much of what the former would be like, but he never lets you forget the second part of his self imposed identity. In truth, I wonder if he knows the difference. The "good Kissinger" include historical facts of various diplomatic activities and encounters. He is especially good at relating these events with current policies (written pre-September 11th). His remarks on globalization may come to be seen as prophetic. The "bad Kissinger" is pure party politics. I recall an applicable quote, "To portray only what you want to be true is the first step of censorship." That is what is seen in this book, the Kissinger intolerance for any other view. To this Kissinger, every foreign policy initiated by a Democratic president is ill-advised, ill-conceived, or simply put, non-Kissingerian. In truth, even the learned Kissinger would be hard pressed to give an example of a foreign policy that could not be criticized. His presentation, though, is anti-intellectual because he shamelessly fails to give similar critiques to any Republican president. He makes no mention of Reagan's illegal attempt to sell arms to Iran, or the Lebanon fiasco that led to the deaths of numerous Marines (and no American response unless invading Grenada would some how hurt the feelings of the Middle East terrorists). He most certainly could have found some foreign policy concerns with Reagan's early support for Saddam Hussein and the lack of American response to Iraq's killing of 37 U.S. sailors aboard a Navy ship in 1987. Clinton is specifically criticized for not directly removing the Serbian president in the NATO war against the Serbs, but the failure of Bush Sr. to remove Hussein is barely noted and Bush Sr. escapes specific blame by name. And please don't tell me that Kissinger had no qualms about Bush Jr's. announcing that his administration would begin by keeping it's hands off the Israel-Palestinian conflict. The author, though, makes no mention of this foreign policy debacle. Overall, the book has real value, and it is informative on various levels of government and foreign affairs. However, the reader should accept the book with Kissinger's own warning about the Information Age. That is, having the information is of little value, without the ability to properly interpret the information. Kissinger gives the reader much information, but his unscientific approach prevents an intelligent interpretation.
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Summary: Kissinger's Best
Review: This is a remarkable book from one of the most effective men ever to serve as Secretary of State and one of the wisest current observers of the world scene. Kissinger understands that foreign policy has to be rooted in reality and must be consistently maintained if it is to be effective. He is alert to the pressures which have been weakening the Atlantic Alliance, the need to accommodate European legitimate interests, the importance of Japan to America's future and the unique blend of idealism and realism which makes American foreign policy so complicated and makes our country so difficult for others to understand. This is one of Kissinger's best books. It is clear, written for the informed citizen who is not a specialist in foreign policy, and covers virtually every major issue facing America. This is a book the Bush Administration can use for sophisticated planning and the interested citizen can use to better understand the context in which the daily news is made.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent
Review: This is a very good book especially in light of recent events (the attacks on the World Trade Center). It provides an enlightening historical background into various countries/areas of the world and the relationship the United States has with each. As events are unfolding related to the war on terrorism, I now have a deeper understanding of the reactions by different countries. For example, the reason why it took some countries longer to respond in how they would support the war against terrorism (or in some cases would not support us). It also sheds light on some of the anti-American attitudes around the world. Prior to this book, I was among the many people who thought we should spend more money on fighting terrorism than on building a missile defense system. While he doesn't specifically talk about terrorism at any length, it became easily clear to me that one is actually part of the other: building a missle defense system is part of that war. With the World Trade Center buildings taken down, we (the US) discovered that we are vulnerable. When we have secured America, what is next? Missiles from somewhere else? At least let's not find out by not being able to defend ourselves. In my view, the last couple of chapters are the best. He presents some very interesting topics to be considered: the global long-term effects of the Internet, international law and more. I am 31 years old and only recently became interested in politics and history (with pathetic previous knowledge due to lack of interest when I was in school). I think this book can be interesting and educational to anyone with an interest.
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Summary: What a book!
Review: This is a vivid description of foreign policy through the ages. It is a beautifuly written intro to diplomacy.
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Summary: Mediocre work from a brilliant mind
Review: Whatever your views on Henry Kissinger as a practitioner of international relations, it is difficult to deny his genius as an academic in the field. One may disagree with his politics or with the ultra-realist approach he used in guiding U.S. foreign policy as Nixon's secretary of state, one may even go so far as to call him a war criminal. But as a chronicler of modern diplomatic history, he has few rivals. Having read his seminal work Diplomacy, a masterpiece in which he traces diplomatic relations from the time of the Treaty of Westphalia through present day, it was with eager anticipation that I awaited his most recent work, Does America Need a Foreign Policy? What could be more exciting for a student of international affairs than a prescription for 21st century American diplomacy from America's consummate diplomatist? The book, unfortunately, does not even live up to its own title, much less the expectations it inherits by virtue of its author's reputation. Kissinger does not truly attempt to answer the question implicit in the book's rhetorical title - namely, that assuming America does need a foreign policy, what should that foreign policy look like? Instead he traces historical developments and foreign policy trends, divided neatly into geographic regions, and ends each discussion with a brief, all-too-vague, and not-at-all bold prescription for how our country's leaders should proceed in the future. For instance, in his discussion of Europe and trans-Atlantic relations, his boldest assertion is that the U.S. should support the strengthening of the EU as a means of keeping Russia in check. In Asia, he argues that close relations with Japan will be more productive in preventing the emergence of a hostile, dominant China than the current course of inflammatory rhetoric and aggressive policies. And in his chapter on globalization, he focuses most of his attention on a thorough excoriation of the IMF and its failures in the Asian, Russian, and Latin American financial crises, without offering much in the way of solutions. It is ironic that his most opinionated chapter - the one on peace and justice - is also his most predictable. Is it any surprise that Kissinger, who in recent years has been accused by some of war crimes, would argue strongly against the authority of the International Criminal Court, and take up the legal crusade of Augusto Pinochet? In its favor, this book is certainly very readable. But don't we expect more than that from the likes of Henry Kissinger? When I read the work of such a brilliant mind, I almost feel disappointed if I don't feel a need at the end to go back and re-read passages or even entire chapters. In this case I felt neither the need, nor the desire, to do so.
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Summary: The perfect author to answer this question
Review: Without a doubt, there is no more formidable foreign policy mind than Henry Kissinger. He uses his extensive experience and skill in this field to raise some excellent issues covering the entire globe as it relates to American foreign policy. Additionally, Dr. Kissinger writes in a manner which allows him to fully utilize his best trait as an author: his ability to philosophize. His insights provoke deep, deep thought on the part of the reader, or, in this case, the listener. My only complaint is that, this being an audio cassette, it is narrated by someone other than the author and it is abridged. Personally, I would buy the book format of this. But if you feel the need not to read, consider this alternative.
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