Publishers Weekly
06/15/2020
Former World Bank president Zoellick, who served in the State Department during both Bush administrations, debuts with a richly detailed and centrist-minded history of American diplomacy, from Benjamin Franklin’s signing of the first two U.S. treaties in 1778 to President Trump’s trade war with China. Contending that “U.S. diplomacy has sought out what works, even if practitioners stumbled while discovering what they could accomplish,” Zoellick identifies five traditions that have guided America’s foreign policy, including a focus on exerting control over North America; a prioritization of “trade, technology, and finance” in international relations; and a belief in American exceptionalism. In the book’s strongest sections, Zoellick spotlights these traditions in more obscure episodes from U.S. diplomatic history, including Michigan senator Arthur Vandenberg’s essential role in post-WWII alliance building, and Theodore Roosevelt’s mediation of the Russo-Japanese War and a 1905 clash between France and Germany over Morocco. Readers hoping for substantial insights into more recent events will be disappointed; in a brief afterword, Zoellick sketches the foreign policies of the Clinton, (George W.) Bush, Obama, and Trump presidencies, and leaves Russia’s 2016 electoral interference unmentioned. Still, this is a cogent, fine-grained assessment of the value of pragmatism in foreign affairs. Agent: Andrew Wylie, the Wylie Agency. (Aug.)
From the Publisher
"AMERICA IN THE WORLD is a highly accessible and engaging history of U.S. diplomacy written by one of the country's smartest and most capable foreign policy practitioners. Robert Zoellick understands better than most how inseparable America's fate is from the rest of the world, and that timely lesson shines through the pages of this book."—Former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright
"Bob Zoellick has accomplished the near impossible — he has written a seminal work thatis groundbreaking, historically insightful, and entertaining in a way that will appeal to scholars and general readers alike. America in the World provides a new framework for understanding the history of America's foreign policy, and is chock-full of fascinating vignettes that reveal our nation's pragmatism and innovative spirit."—Henry M. Paulson, Jr., former United States Secretary of the Treasury
"This book is so sweeping and insightful that it will revive the art of diplomatic history. Robert Zoellick emphasizes America's pragmatic instincts, from Benjamin Franklin to George H.W. Bush, as well as the key role that technology and trade have played in furthering our influence. In addition to being a fascinating historic narrative, this book provides a great framework for understanding our role in the world today."—Walter Isaacson, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Leonardo da Vinci
"Few people understand statecraft or have practiced it as adroitly as Robert Zoellick. His new book, AMERICA IN THE WORLD, examines the history of U.S. diplomacy and the emphasis our nation's diplomats have placed on pragmatic results over theoretical approaches. As we march into the uncertain future of a multipolar world, Zoellick successfully argues that this tradition will be critical for the country to maintain its place on the world stage."
—James A. Baker, III, 61st U.S. Secretary of State
"A masterful review of America's role in the world from Benjamin Franklin's foray to Paris as America's first diplomat to the tumultuous experiences of recent years, with thoughtful reflections on the traditions that have evolved since our founding and a superb consideration of the possibilities for the years ahead. AMERICA IN THE WORLD is a wonderful read, one that reflects the pragmatism of an experienced practitioner, the painstaking research of a serious scholar, the trained eye of a historian, and the judiciousness of thinking that has distinguished the best episodes in America's foreign policy — and Bob Zoellick's contributions to them."—General David Petraeus (US Army, Ret.), former Commander of the Surge in Iraq, US Central Command, and Coalition Forces in Afghanistan, and former Director of the CIA
"One of America's preeminent statesmen offers a masterful survey of American diplomacy, its practitioners, and its traditions. Full of rich narrative and sharp insights, this is an essential guide to steer the ship of American diplomacy in a more complicated, crowded, and competitive international landscape."—Ambassador William J. Burns, President, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and former Deputy Secretary of State
"With the unique insight of a practitioner-scholar, Robert Zoellick takes readers through the riveting story of America's distinctive statecraft from Ben Franklin to Trump — filled with clear-eyed analysis and practical lessons for anyone interested in leadership, negotiation, and diplomacy today."—Graham Allison, bestselling author of Destined for War and Douglas Dillon Professor of Government, Harvard Kennedy School
"An extraordinary contribution to the history of American foreign policy, told from the perspective of a wise and pragmatic practitioner. A great read."—Joseph S. Nye, author of Do Morals Matter?: Presidents and Foreign Policy from FDR to Trump
"An outstanding history of US foreign policy by one of its leading practitioners. Zoellick grasps the essence of the debates over America's role in the world, and shows the constant interaction between global developments and the approaches of US policymakers. It is a diplomatic history for the 21st century, grounded in the practical lessons of centuries past."—O.A. Westad, Yale University
"AMERICA IN THE WORLD is a sweeping history of U.S. foreign policy, from the founding fathers to the present day. Insightful, provocative, non-ideological and pragmatic, Bob Zoellick skillfully distills the lessons of history and the essential traditions of American diplomacy. A must-read for foreign policy makers and watchers alike."—Michèle Flournoy, co-founder and managing partner of WestExec Advisors, former under secretary of defense (2009-2012)
"This well-researched, well-written, and at times deeply passionate examination of America's role in the world is the product of decades of profound thought from one of the world's top decision-makers. Robert Zoellick's insider knowledge mixes with his sharp historical acuity to produce a convincing thesis that should guide modern America for decades to come."—Andrew Roberts, author of Churchill: Walking with Destiny
"Robert Zoellick's AMERICA IN THE WORLD both educates and entertains. Unlike many other sweeping works of history, Zoellick puts his subjects — rather than theories or frameworks — at the center of his book, using stories to both captivate his reader and illuminate meaningful trends in American diplomacy. He presents a different and compelling lens through which to consider nearly two centuries of American foreign policy — that of pragmatism. As a diplomat, historian, and pragmatist himself, Zoellick identifies enduring U.S. foreign policy traditions and offers a welcome reminder that for much of the country's history, the perception of American exceptionalism has animated U.S. actions in the world, mostly for good. At a time when the global order is under such strain, AMERICA IN THE WORLD provides a much-needed anchor to those who are rethinking America's role in the world and will be responsible for crafting it."—Meghan L. O'Sullivan, Jeane Kirkpatrick Professor of the Practice of International Affairs and author of Windfall
"[A] significant achievement. Zoellick makes a strong case that the story of the past can help us make the future better."—Washington Post
"A useful, knowledgeable...history of American foreign policy from a veteran in the field of 'pragmatic diplomacy.'"—Kirkus
"Here is a book that will make your chest heavy with regret for what has been lost but also buoyant with hope that a brighter future can be achieved."—New York Journal of Books
"[A] highly readable and insightful history of US foreign policy."—Niall Ferguson
"A magisterial, unlikely ever to be bettered survey of American foreign policy since the Revolution, marked by the insights of a key member of the outstandingly successful foreign policy team of President George HW Bush. Five stars."
—Robin Renwick, former UK Ambassador to the United States and South Africa, author of FIGHTING WITH ALLIES
Library Journal
08/01/2020
Zoellick (Harvard Kennedy Sch. of Government) served as White House Deputy Chief of Staff for George H. W. Bush, Deputy Secretary of State for George W. Bush and, later, President of the World Bank. This experience contributes to his insightful survey of U.S. diplomatic history. Here, he focuses on his choice of five diplomatic traditions: the geopolitical importance of North America; trade, transnationalism, and technology; alliances and international order; public and congressional support; and the purpose of the United States in the world. Zoellick uses these themes to assess the foreign policy approaches of Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, Barack Obama, and Donald Trump. He finds them insufficient compared with 19th and 20th century politicians, such as John Hay and George Marshall, and especially compared with Ronald Reagan and George H. W. Bush. Zoellick thoroughly critiques diplomatic successes and failures, and one of the great values of his work is the rediscovery of underestimated presidents (e.g., John Quincy Adams, Harry Truman), underappreciated diplomats (Henry Clay, Cordell Hull), and unsung heroes (William L. Clayton, Lucius Clay). VERDICT Through this comprehensive book, readers will gain a deeper understanding of the United States and its place in the world.—Thomas Karel, Franklin & Marshall Coll. Lib., Lancaster, PA
Kirkus Reviews
2020-04-29
A history of American foreign policy from a veteran in the field of “pragmatic diplomacy.”
Zoellick, now a senior fellow at Harvard’s Belfer Center, has vast experience in the diplomatic realm: Since the early 1990s, he has served in a wide variety of relevant roles, including deputy secretary of state, deputy chief of staff at the White House, and president of the World Bank. As such, the author has a unique perspective, and the narrative is “rich with tales of human endeavor, problem solving, and political insights.” Unfortunately, women are absent, as Zoellick fails to note the stellar diplomatic contributions of Madeleine Albright, Hillary Clinton, and others. The author delineates five diplomatic traditions that have been crucial to U.S. foreign policy: a strong sense of the geostrategic potential of North America; trade, transnationalism, and technology; the alliance system, which helps maintain international order; garnering Congressional and public support; and recognizing “America’s purpose” in the world, whether that be advancement of democracy or the power of the U.S. financial system. Benjamin Franklin, America’s “first diplomat,” knew expertly how to play the Old World rivalries off each other, didn’t mind using deceit, and “put practice before theory,” as Stacy Schiff wrote in A Great Improvisation. Alexander Hamilton, writes Zoellick, “employed financial means to attain political, economic, and social ends.” Woodrow Wilson underscored the ideological justification for war—“the world must be made safe for democracy”—yet ultimately lacked the diplomatic team to employ the leverage to pass his peace proposals. From John F. Kennedy, the “crisis manager,” to Lyndon Johnson, a brilliant congressional operator who learned bitterly from the defeat in Vietnam, to Henry Kissinger, the master of realpolitik, to George H.W. Bush, the “alliance leader,” Zoellick accessibly demonstrates how they plied their diplomatic methods. However, the failure to acknowledge women diplomats is a sizable flaw.
A useful, knowledgeable history that is missing a major piece of the puzzle.
