The Choice – Global Domination or Global Leadership by Zbigniew Brezinski – Basic Books New York, NY Copyright 2004 by Zbigniew Brezinski
A Book Review by Bill Dahl
A tremendous treatise on the state and potential future of global strategic relationships. Brezinski is one I have always enjoyed listening to on Charlie Rose and other forums where the topic is the ever evolving intricacy of global relationships. Absolutely penetrating.
Brezinski says: “The appeal of an ideology comes not only from its vision of the future, but from its compelling myths about the present.”(p. 146). For public policy wonks or those fascinated by the intrigue of international relations (that would be me on both counts), I would encourage you to dive into this book. Few have the practical experience and intellectual prowess of Brezinski. Yet, his writing style and use of language is accessible to all. This book covers virtually every major nation-state player, the present state of each, and innumerable scenarios about how the future may unfold — and the implications for the U.S. role in the same.
Brezinski’s insights into globalization were particularly poignant for me: “Globalization is a mixed blessing, and if American policymakers do not deliberately infuse it with politically evident moral content, focusing on the alleviation of the human condition, their uncritical embrace of it could backfire.” (pp.160-161). “The United states should treat globalization less as a gospel and more as an opportunity for the betterment of the human condition.” (p. 161). After having made these cautionary and hopeful remarks, Brezinski is a realist and fully appreciates that the way globalization is unfolding, it may be a function of guiding a phenomenon not necessarily under the control of any one nation-state, in terms of the actual form it takes — and the collateral damage Brezinski so distinctly recognizes it has the capacity to create.
A great “background book” for those interested in strategic visioning of the future. I highly recommend it.
