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Foreign Policy Begins at Home: The Case for Putting America's House in Order
The biggest threat to the United States comes not from abroad but from within. This is the provocative, timely, and unexpected message of Council on Foreign Relations President Richard N. Haass’s Foreign Policy Begins at Home.
A rising China, climate change, terrorism, a nuclear Iran, a turbulent Middle East, and a reckless North Korea all present serious challenges. But U.S. national security depends even more on the United States addressing its burgeoning deficit and debt, crumbling infrastructure, second class schools, and outdated immigration system.
Foreign Policy Begins at Home describes a twenty-first century in which power is widely diffused. Globalization, revolutionary technologies, and the rise and decline of new and old powers have created a “nonpolar” world of American primacy but not domination. So far, it has been a relatively forgiving world, with no great rival threatening America directly. How long this strategic respite lasts, according to Haass, will depend largely on whether the United States puts its own house in order.
Haass argues for a new American foreign policy: Restoration. At home, the new doctrine would have the country concentrate on restoring the economic foundations of American power. Overseas, the U.S. would stop trying to remake the Middle East with military force, instead emphasizing maintaining the balance of power in Asia, promoting economic integration and energy self-sufficiency in North America, and working to promote collective responses to global challenges.
Haass rejects both isolationism and the notion of American decline. But he argues the United States is underperforming at home and overreaching abroad. Foreign Policy Begins at Home lays out a compelling vision for restoring America’s power, influence, and ability to lead the world.
A rising China, climate change, terrorism, a nuclear Iran, a turbulent Middle East, and a reckless North Korea all present serious challenges. But U.S. national security depends even more on the United States addressing its burgeoning deficit and debt, crumbling infrastructure, second class schools, and outdated immigration system.
Foreign Policy Begins at Home describes a twenty-first century in which power is widely diffused. Globalization, revolutionary technologies, and the rise and decline of new and old powers have created a “nonpolar” world of American primacy but not domination. So far, it has been a relatively forgiving world, with no great rival threatening America directly. How long this strategic respite lasts, according to Haass, will depend largely on whether the United States puts its own house in order.
Haass argues for a new American foreign policy: Restoration. At home, the new doctrine would have the country concentrate on restoring the economic foundations of American power. Overseas, the U.S. would stop trying to remake the Middle East with military force, instead emphasizing maintaining the balance of power in Asia, promoting economic integration and energy self-sufficiency in North America, and working to promote collective responses to global challenges.
Haass rejects both isolationism and the notion of American decline. But he argues the United States is underperforming at home and overreaching abroad. Foreign Policy Begins at Home lays out a compelling vision for restoring America’s power, influence, and ability to lead the world.
208 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2013
52 people are currently reading
768 people want to read
About the author
Richard N. Haass
42 books289 followersDr. Richard Nathan Haass is in his fourteenth year as president of the Council on Foreign Relations, an independent, nonpartisan membership organization, think tank, publisher and educational institution dedicated to being a resource to help people better understand the world and the foreign policy choices facing the United States and other countries.
In 2013, he served as the chair of the multiparty negotiations in Northern Ireland that provided the foundation for the 2014 Stormont House Agreement. For his efforts to promote peace and conflict resolution, he received the 2013 Tipperary International Peace Award.
From January 2001 to June 2003, Dr. Haass was director of policy planning for the Department of State, where he was a principal advisor to Secretary of State Colin Powell. Confirmed by the U.S. Senate to hold the rank of ambassador, Dr. Haass also served as U.S. coordinator for policy toward the future of Afghanistan and U.S. envoy to the Northern Ireland peace process. In recognition of his service, he received the State Department’s Distinguished Honor Award.
Dr. Haass has extensive additional government experience. From 1989 to 1993, he was special assistant to President George H.W. Bush and senior director for Near East and South Asian affairs on the staff of the National Security Council. In 1991, Dr. Haass was awarded the Presidential Citizens Medal for his contributions to the development and articulation of U.S. policy during Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. Previously, he served in the Departments of State (1981–1985) and Defense (1979–1980), and was a legislative aide in the U.S. Senate.
Dr. Haass also was vice president and director of foreign policy studies at the Brookings Institution, the Sol M. Linowitz visiting professor of international studies at Hamilton College, a senior associate at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, a lecturer in public policy at the Harvard Kennedy School, and a research associate at the International Institute for Strategic Studies. A Rhodes scholar, Dr. Haass holds a bachelor’s degree from Oberlin College and master’s and doctorate degrees from Oxford University. He has also received numerous honorary degrees.
Dr. Haass is the author or editor of thirteen books on American foreign policy and one book on management. His latest book is A World in Disarray: American Foreign Policy and the Crisis of the Old Order, published in 2017 by Penguin Press.
In 2013, he served as the chair of the multiparty negotiations in Northern Ireland that provided the foundation for the 2014 Stormont House Agreement. For his efforts to promote peace and conflict resolution, he received the 2013 Tipperary International Peace Award.
From January 2001 to June 2003, Dr. Haass was director of policy planning for the Department of State, where he was a principal advisor to Secretary of State Colin Powell. Confirmed by the U.S. Senate to hold the rank of ambassador, Dr. Haass also served as U.S. coordinator for policy toward the future of Afghanistan and U.S. envoy to the Northern Ireland peace process. In recognition of his service, he received the State Department’s Distinguished Honor Award.
Dr. Haass has extensive additional government experience. From 1989 to 1993, he was special assistant to President George H.W. Bush and senior director for Near East and South Asian affairs on the staff of the National Security Council. In 1991, Dr. Haass was awarded the Presidential Citizens Medal for his contributions to the development and articulation of U.S. policy during Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. Previously, he served in the Departments of State (1981–1985) and Defense (1979–1980), and was a legislative aide in the U.S. Senate.
Dr. Haass also was vice president and director of foreign policy studies at the Brookings Institution, the Sol M. Linowitz visiting professor of international studies at Hamilton College, a senior associate at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, a lecturer in public policy at the Harvard Kennedy School, and a research associate at the International Institute for Strategic Studies. A Rhodes scholar, Dr. Haass holds a bachelor’s degree from Oberlin College and master’s and doctorate degrees from Oxford University. He has also received numerous honorary degrees.
Dr. Haass is the author or editor of thirteen books on American foreign policy and one book on management. His latest book is A World in Disarray: American Foreign Policy and the Crisis of the Old Order, published in 2017 by Penguin Press.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
May 22, 2013
I really had higher hopes for this book. I think that his analysis of the current foreign policy situation as well as what we should consider basing our foreign policy on is quite sound. And the factors he identifies as problems at home are important. But his strength is definitely on the foreign policy aspects; when it comes to discussing domestic issues that affect foreign policy Haass is seemingly out of his depth. His opinions on debt and solutions for American educational problems are poorly-considered, and his overall hawkishness on the national debt reflects the overblown hysteria of the same deficit scolds who saw no problem with mounting deficits and national debt under the previous Administration. Still, though, his overall argument is sound, and my criticisms are quibbles about details of his argument rather than the main thrust.
September 12, 2014
Foreign Policy Begins at Home: The Case for Putting America’s House in Order by Richard N. Haass
“Foreign Policy Begins at Home” is a fantastic, succinct and accessible book on foreign policy. American diplomat and accomplished author Richard N. Haass provides the public with a fair and even-handed book, in this edition he advocates for a new foreign policy of Restoration that argues for less foreign policy and a greater emphasis on domestic investment and policy reform. This insightful 212-page book is broken out into the following three parts: I. The Return of History, II. Restoration Abroad and III. Restoration at Home.
Positives:
1. A well-written, concise and even-handed book on foreign policy for the masses.
2. Haass has mastery of the important topic of foreign policy and is able to convey it in a lucid manner.
3. I really like the author’s approach. He is direct, concise and his points are well grounded. He doesn’t chew more than he can eat and is candid about the risks and challenges involved.
4. The book revolves around the following three themes: the United States is overreaching abroad, underperforming at home and underreach. “Call it underreach: the risk posed by what appears to be a growing lack of understanding by many Americans of the close relationship between the state of the world—how much stability, how much prosperity—and the state of the United States.”
5. Makes it perfectly clear why we the United States must lead the globe. “No other country or groups of countries have the capacity, the experience, and the inclination to lead efforts to build global order.”
6. Covers so much in so little time. “There are, of course, external challenges, including but hardly limited to a rising China, a militarized North Korea, an Iran possibly moving to acquire nuclear weapons, an unstable Pakistan, violent terrorists, and a warming planet.”
7. Explains the most noteworthy features in the first half of the twenty-first century is nonpolarity. “Two factors—globalization and technology—contribute to nonpolarity.”
8. Eye-opening facts. “China’s GDP increased from less than $400 billion in 1981 to more than $7 trillion three decades later; India’s increased from under $300 billion to nearly $2 trillion over that same period.”
9. Provocative statements always make for fun reading. “America’s lack of fiscal discipline has contributed far more to its loss of power and influence than have these wars.”
10. An interesting look at the rest of the world. From rising powers and the challenges that they face. “The so-called great powers are not all that great. China has already been discussed, as has Europe. Both have significant vulnerabilities and weaknesses along with their strengths.”
11. Excellent statements that capture the essence of what is going on in the world. “The major powers share a common predicament: their inability to agree on how the world is to be organized and operated.”
12. Touches on some global hot-button issues like climate change. “In the case of climate change, there is near-universal acceptance among the world’s governments of the scientific evidence that burning fossil fuels is causing measurable change in the earth’s climate, something that in turn will affect not just average temperatures but agricultural output, species survival, insect and disease prevalence, severity and frequency of tornadoes and hurricanes, and flooding in coastal areas.”
13. Despite focusing on the challenges we face as a nation and leader of the globe provides reasons for optimism. “The twentieth century was defined by two world wars and a cold war that mercifully stayed that way; the twenty-first century is starting out and promises to remain for some time something qualitatively different.”
14. Provides an excellent list of major concerns for worry. “US interests in the Middle East are greater than American influence there. That, in a nutshell, is the current predicament of the United States.”
15. The second part of the book focuses on what the United States should and should not do abroad. “As we are seeing in the Middle East, it is one thing to oust authoritarian regimes, something very different and more difficult to replace them with something demonstrably and enduringly better.”
16. Tackles the always hot topic of dealing with terrorism. Provides different methods on how to address and the challenges involved.
17. The four contenders for foreign policy doctrine. Explains the Restoration approach.
18. Addresses the most important topics on how to put America’s house in order. “To speak of the domestic challenge facing the United States is, in reality, to speak of multiple challenges. The list is virtually endless and no doubt highly subjective, but I would highlight five core elements: reducing the federal deficit and the ratio of national debt to GDP, putting into place a comprehensive energy strategy, improving the quality of education, upgrading the country’s physical infrastructure, and modernizing an out-of-date immigration policy.”
19. A sound conclusion that brings it all together. “This book is premised on the idea that the world needs American leadership, but that American leadership requires the United States to first put its house in order, something that in turn will require its being more restrained in what it tries to do abroad and more disciplined in what it does at home.”
20. Notes provided.
Negatives:
1. Don’t expect an in-depth analysis. Haass provide the goods in a direct and straight-forward manner.
2. No supplementary material. That is, no graphs, charts, or other kinds of visual material.
3. No formal bibliography.
In summary, I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed this book. For full disclosure, considering my politics is of the progressive ilk I was expecting some conflict of opinion with Haass but that never materialized and I must say I found his book to be reasonable. It’s a treat to read a book that cuts to the chase while providing the public the necessary essentials. It’s accessible, even-handed and has a good flow to it. It’s the perfect book to suggest to anyone who normally doesn’t have much patience or interest in politics but just wants to gain a basic understanding of foreign policy without a large investment of time. I highly recommend it!
Further recommendations: “War of Necessity, War of Choice” by the same author, “Restraint” by Barry R. Posen, “Duty” by Robert M. Gates, “Hard Choices” by Hillary Rodham Clinton, “Cyber War” by Richard A. Clarke, “That Used to be Us” by Thomas L. Friedman, and “On China” by Henry Kissinger.
“Foreign Policy Begins at Home” is a fantastic, succinct and accessible book on foreign policy. American diplomat and accomplished author Richard N. Haass provides the public with a fair and even-handed book, in this edition he advocates for a new foreign policy of Restoration that argues for less foreign policy and a greater emphasis on domestic investment and policy reform. This insightful 212-page book is broken out into the following three parts: I. The Return of History, II. Restoration Abroad and III. Restoration at Home.
Positives:
1. A well-written, concise and even-handed book on foreign policy for the masses.
2. Haass has mastery of the important topic of foreign policy and is able to convey it in a lucid manner.
3. I really like the author’s approach. He is direct, concise and his points are well grounded. He doesn’t chew more than he can eat and is candid about the risks and challenges involved.
4. The book revolves around the following three themes: the United States is overreaching abroad, underperforming at home and underreach. “Call it underreach: the risk posed by what appears to be a growing lack of understanding by many Americans of the close relationship between the state of the world—how much stability, how much prosperity—and the state of the United States.”
5. Makes it perfectly clear why we the United States must lead the globe. “No other country or groups of countries have the capacity, the experience, and the inclination to lead efforts to build global order.”
6. Covers so much in so little time. “There are, of course, external challenges, including but hardly limited to a rising China, a militarized North Korea, an Iran possibly moving to acquire nuclear weapons, an unstable Pakistan, violent terrorists, and a warming planet.”
7. Explains the most noteworthy features in the first half of the twenty-first century is nonpolarity. “Two factors—globalization and technology—contribute to nonpolarity.”
8. Eye-opening facts. “China’s GDP increased from less than $400 billion in 1981 to more than $7 trillion three decades later; India’s increased from under $300 billion to nearly $2 trillion over that same period.”
9. Provocative statements always make for fun reading. “America’s lack of fiscal discipline has contributed far more to its loss of power and influence than have these wars.”
10. An interesting look at the rest of the world. From rising powers and the challenges that they face. “The so-called great powers are not all that great. China has already been discussed, as has Europe. Both have significant vulnerabilities and weaknesses along with their strengths.”
11. Excellent statements that capture the essence of what is going on in the world. “The major powers share a common predicament: their inability to agree on how the world is to be organized and operated.”
12. Touches on some global hot-button issues like climate change. “In the case of climate change, there is near-universal acceptance among the world’s governments of the scientific evidence that burning fossil fuels is causing measurable change in the earth’s climate, something that in turn will affect not just average temperatures but agricultural output, species survival, insect and disease prevalence, severity and frequency of tornadoes and hurricanes, and flooding in coastal areas.”
13. Despite focusing on the challenges we face as a nation and leader of the globe provides reasons for optimism. “The twentieth century was defined by two world wars and a cold war that mercifully stayed that way; the twenty-first century is starting out and promises to remain for some time something qualitatively different.”
14. Provides an excellent list of major concerns for worry. “US interests in the Middle East are greater than American influence there. That, in a nutshell, is the current predicament of the United States.”
15. The second part of the book focuses on what the United States should and should not do abroad. “As we are seeing in the Middle East, it is one thing to oust authoritarian regimes, something very different and more difficult to replace them with something demonstrably and enduringly better.”
16. Tackles the always hot topic of dealing with terrorism. Provides different methods on how to address and the challenges involved.
17. The four contenders for foreign policy doctrine. Explains the Restoration approach.
18. Addresses the most important topics on how to put America’s house in order. “To speak of the domestic challenge facing the United States is, in reality, to speak of multiple challenges. The list is virtually endless and no doubt highly subjective, but I would highlight five core elements: reducing the federal deficit and the ratio of national debt to GDP, putting into place a comprehensive energy strategy, improving the quality of education, upgrading the country’s physical infrastructure, and modernizing an out-of-date immigration policy.”
19. A sound conclusion that brings it all together. “This book is premised on the idea that the world needs American leadership, but that American leadership requires the United States to first put its house in order, something that in turn will require its being more restrained in what it tries to do abroad and more disciplined in what it does at home.”
20. Notes provided.
Negatives:
1. Don’t expect an in-depth analysis. Haass provide the goods in a direct and straight-forward manner.
2. No supplementary material. That is, no graphs, charts, or other kinds of visual material.
3. No formal bibliography.
In summary, I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed this book. For full disclosure, considering my politics is of the progressive ilk I was expecting some conflict of opinion with Haass but that never materialized and I must say I found his book to be reasonable. It’s a treat to read a book that cuts to the chase while providing the public the necessary essentials. It’s accessible, even-handed and has a good flow to it. It’s the perfect book to suggest to anyone who normally doesn’t have much patience or interest in politics but just wants to gain a basic understanding of foreign policy without a large investment of time. I highly recommend it!
Further recommendations: “War of Necessity, War of Choice” by the same author, “Restraint” by Barry R. Posen, “Duty” by Robert M. Gates, “Hard Choices” by Hillary Rodham Clinton, “Cyber War” by Richard A. Clarke, “That Used to be Us” by Thomas L. Friedman, and “On China” by Henry Kissinger.
January 10, 2018
This is not that great of a book. The author should stick with foreign affairs, which is clearly his strength. I really enjoyed the first 60% or so of this book, which laid out many foreign policy challenges past, present, and future. It's clear Haas knows his history and politics around the world. Domestic politics, however, are not his strong suit.
Let me just say that I agree with his overall premise- if the US takes care of business at home, many foreign policy challenges would become easier in the abstract. However, he mentions several major issues that are more complex than he gives credit to. He briefly introduces topics like education and immigration, and gives about 5-10 pages each to his quick and easy solutions to fix everything. Along the way he makes great generalizations and vague predictions... "this COULD lead to that, or that SHOULD cause this". It's not his best work for sure
Let me just say that I agree with his overall premise- if the US takes care of business at home, many foreign policy challenges would become easier in the abstract. However, he mentions several major issues that are more complex than he gives credit to. He briefly introduces topics like education and immigration, and gives about 5-10 pages each to his quick and easy solutions to fix everything. Along the way he makes great generalizations and vague predictions... "this COULD lead to that, or that SHOULD cause this". It's not his best work for sure
November 5, 2013
Frustrating. Ends up being a kind of laundry list of specific policy reforms, capped off with the claim that what is needed to bring them about is "real leadership." Well...yes. We know. Now what? I agree with his assessment of many of the problems, and while I would quibble with some of his proposals for addressing them, in general they are sensible and clearly based on thoughtful and informed analysis (though I do not know that he is saying much that is really NEW, either in identifying the problems or in the proposed solutions). The problem is getting any of them— really: ANY of them— done. And Haass has very little to say about that, beyond suggesting that the current leadership needs to stop behaving in the way it has been. Again: we KNOW that. So now what?
October 6, 2020
This was an excellent book! This is a must-read for U.S. national security, intelligence, and foreign policy professionals with a vested interest in the collective future of the United States. Author Richard Haass articulates a compelling argument for the United States to embrace a policy of 'Restoration', by restoring and rebuilding its internal economic, social, and physical manifestations of power and being more discriminate in its overseas commitments. U.S. foreign policy would be more broadly distributed across the increasingly vital Asia-Pacific Region and the Western Hemisphere while scaling back direct military involvement across the Middle East. According to Haass, the U.S. has been underperforming at home and must devote more resources to getting its own house in order by refocusing on five core domestic elements: reducing the federal deficit, formulating a comprehensive energy strategy, improving K-12 education, upgrading physical infrastructure, and modernizing immigration policy. Haass astutely observes the world is looking for a signal that the U.S. has the political will and ability to make hard choices. The ultimate aim of 'Restoration' is to "increase the number of Americans who can hold their own in an increasingly competitive global marketplace, shore up the economic and physical resilience of the country, and ensure that sufficient resources are available so that the United States can do what it wants and needs to do both at home and abroad".
March 6, 2024
This is Dr. Haas’s second book after "A World in Disarray," I have read. This book proved to be quite enlightening and educational. However, it seemed that many of the ideas from this earlier work found their way into "A World in Disarray," creating a sense of repetition.
The author believes that the biggest threat to the U.S. comes from domestic issues rather than external factors. He argues against isolationism and the idea of American decline but suggests that the U.S. needs to focus more on its internal challenges and reduce involvement in interventions and wars abroad.
While I found the book enjoyable, I couldn't help but notice some redundant parts that could have been condensed. Nevertheless, it was a valuable and enriching read overall, reinforcing my existing knowledge of the subject.
The author believes that the biggest threat to the U.S. comes from domestic issues rather than external factors. He argues against isolationism and the idea of American decline but suggests that the U.S. needs to focus more on its internal challenges and reduce involvement in interventions and wars abroad.
While I found the book enjoyable, I couldn't help but notice some redundant parts that could have been condensed. Nevertheless, it was a valuable and enriching read overall, reinforcing my existing knowledge of the subject.
July 29, 2020
I read this book and have concluded that overall the reason I dislike it is that I am not fond of cleaning. I will do it, for example - the ovenware. Ahhh egads I can't stand cooking either, due to the strong smells. But I have grown to understand the chemical processes that are required to prepare a meal. Through means of discussing the methodologies with my foreign buddies...
Now, this book IS a bit old - it is bad for books to be in the stacks if they are more than five years old and this has been at my local library since May of 2013, and it has been published late April of that year, so you may want to keep that in mind if you decide to look at it when you are scanning the literature on your foreign policy journey.
For this reason, I am not returning it.
Now, this book IS a bit old - it is bad for books to be in the stacks if they are more than five years old and this has been at my local library since May of 2013, and it has been published late April of that year, so you may want to keep that in mind if you decide to look at it when you are scanning the literature on your foreign policy journey.
For this reason, I am not returning it.
June 27, 2021
Just more of the same old conservative policies that have failed. A nice admission of the Iraq war being a disaster. He makes the the same failure as everyone that America needs to have a pro Israel policy in the middle east when what we need is a pro America policy in the middle east. On domestic policy he often points to real problems but fails to put forth a real plan to fix it.
June 30, 2020
Too bad that no one listens to the experts - people on the ground that are knowledgeable about what is really going on in the world - the current administration would have done well to have paid better attention to the past events. An informative read.
August 2, 2017
Provides interesting insight
June 8, 2019
I was inspired to read this earlier work by Haas after reading World in Disarray. My friends from both sides of the aisle should read this book and consider his "provocative" foreign policy and domestic suggestions.
June 4, 2020
Prescient and a fantastic work on the interplay of domestic affairs and foreign policy-making. Sadly, many of the issues are unresolved.
December 14, 2013
The first third of this book is an excellent primer in foreign policy. It discusses clearly the general state of play and how we arrived at this point. The second third, unfortunately, does rehash a lot of the same ideas of the first-third, but it does so in a prescriptive, forward-looking manner, so it's still of interest. And he discusses the very thesis of the book, which is that the times have changed, and we need to rethink our foreign policy strategy, scaling it back, focusing more on Asia and less on the Middle East, and also turning our resources a bit more toward domestic development. This is a strategy I can generally get behind. However, the domestic third is downright terrible.
The big issue with the book is that Haass wrote a book he is ill-prepared for. The domestic stuff is essentially a rehashing of generic inside-the-beltway froo-froo. His worship of Simpson-Bowles is ill-founded, and it reminds me of David Brooks-style moderation, which is to take a little bit from one side and a little bit of the other, regardless of whether it is consistent or good policy. He makes assertions about the debt and deficit with absolutely zero factual basis. And it is all garbage platitudes you've heard before. It is literally worthless.
The only other major issue I found with the book was that the foreign policy discussion completely takes for granted at numerous points the assertion that a primary desire for the United States is the protection of Israel. Given the way in which he dissects our other interests, his lack of analysis on this point are a serious shortfall.
Overall, the foreign policy discussion was interesting and enjoyable, but I think a book where he focused solely on this area would be a much better read - he is clearly out of his element in this one.
The big issue with the book is that Haass wrote a book he is ill-prepared for. The domestic stuff is essentially a rehashing of generic inside-the-beltway froo-froo. His worship of Simpson-Bowles is ill-founded, and it reminds me of David Brooks-style moderation, which is to take a little bit from one side and a little bit of the other, regardless of whether it is consistent or good policy. He makes assertions about the debt and deficit with absolutely zero factual basis. And it is all garbage platitudes you've heard before. It is literally worthless.
The only other major issue I found with the book was that the foreign policy discussion completely takes for granted at numerous points the assertion that a primary desire for the United States is the protection of Israel. Given the way in which he dissects our other interests, his lack of analysis on this point are a serious shortfall.
Overall, the foreign policy discussion was interesting and enjoyable, but I think a book where he focused solely on this area would be a much better read - he is clearly out of his element in this one.
June 17, 2023
Written from a much more optimistic place than his latest book (which in many ways was a rehashing of this one, using many of the same examples, source materials, and phrasings). The first half of the book focuses on historical US foreign policy toward specific regions, focusing mostly on the middle east I think owing to the fact that Richard Haass was in the white house during the Iraq war as an adviser.
The second half of the book goes through the weaknesses the US has internally and what can be done about them. The solutions he provides are not detailed, but they aren't overly optimistic either. He is a centrist, he wants realistic solutions that invest into the future rather than the current trend of chasing immediate gains.
I enjoyed this book more than his latest "A World in Disarray". This book focused on foreign policy in a novel way. And it outlines the threats we could impose on ourselves by not getting our own financial house in order.
I would not call this a "must read" but, it's a short interesting read for someone interested in US foreign policy and the current state of things globally(which it does well, even if it is a few years out of date).
The second half of the book goes through the weaknesses the US has internally and what can be done about them. The solutions he provides are not detailed, but they aren't overly optimistic either. He is a centrist, he wants realistic solutions that invest into the future rather than the current trend of chasing immediate gains.
I enjoyed this book more than his latest "A World in Disarray". This book focused on foreign policy in a novel way. And it outlines the threats we could impose on ourselves by not getting our own financial house in order.
I would not call this a "must read" but, it's a short interesting read for someone interested in US foreign policy and the current state of things globally(which it does well, even if it is a few years out of date).
May 23, 2015
Book 13 of 40 in the 2015 Book Challange
I'm a fan of Morning Joe and I've often often agreed with Richard Hass when he is part of the panel.
This book is an expanded outline of his opinions on the state of American foreign policy.
A strong believer in a strong American presence in the world he makes clear that there is a need for us to improve at home in order to sustain our presence as a world power.
He points out that we need to make strong policy improvements in education, immigration, infrastructure, energy, and our deficit and debt.
But to make these reforms we will also need to improve our politics. Our system he argues and I strongly agree has become too polarized and has forgotten that the American system only works when there is compromise. I believe Henry Clay thought as that.
Overall if your a Morning Joe fan and want to read deeper into some of Hass' thinking this is a nice quick read about where we should be looking to go with our policy both foreign and domestic.
I'm a fan of Morning Joe and I've often often agreed with Richard Hass when he is part of the panel.
This book is an expanded outline of his opinions on the state of American foreign policy.
A strong believer in a strong American presence in the world he makes clear that there is a need for us to improve at home in order to sustain our presence as a world power.
He points out that we need to make strong policy improvements in education, immigration, infrastructure, energy, and our deficit and debt.
But to make these reforms we will also need to improve our politics. Our system he argues and I strongly agree has become too polarized and has forgotten that the American system only works when there is compromise. I believe Henry Clay thought as that.
Overall if your a Morning Joe fan and want to read deeper into some of Hass' thinking this is a nice quick read about where we should be looking to go with our policy both foreign and domestic.
October 6, 2013
I thought this was a great book, and it gives some really interesting ideas on what is to come for the United States in the ever increasing globalized world. I though the ideas proposed for America and how it can still take a leading roll in the world (basically not losing its global dominance) but refocus on needed areas like latin america and asia are going to be vital to this country in the future. I do how ever disagree with the author on some of the ideas proposed about domestic issues. Number one is his call for the dissolving of the electoral college. this would lead candidates to forgot vast swaths of this country and solely campaign in areas like New York and LA where if you could win those metropolitan areas you can basically win the popular vote. besides that it was a great read.
May 17, 2013
Though I disagree with some of the minor points, the overarching message of the book urgently needs to enter popular discourse. Haass' recommendations of thoughtful restraint abroad is sound, as is his emphasis on reform at home. My biggest complaint with the book is its sometimes overwhelming vagueness about how the author's ideal policy would differentiate from those of the past few decades. Still, weighing in at a little less than 200 pages, the book is clearly intended to be more easily accessible. A more comprehensive companion volume would more useful for those interested in the particulars.
March 7, 2020
It's one thing to discuss a new, comprehensive grand strategy ("Restoration") and quite another to prescribe specific policies that need to be implemented. Haass understands the issues facing a Post-Post Cold War world, but because they are so complicated he has had a hard time discussing how to tackle them. Besides, the issues are fairly predictable so it's really nothing new. Maybe a good first-book in a foreign policy course, but not nearly as enlightening as I had hoped. 2 stars.
August 3, 2013
Interesting book pointing out that we need to put more money into the United States instead of wars abroad or "nation building". Most of his solutions are sheer common sense like reining in health care costs and the need for updating our infrastructure. The problem is the current lack of common sense in government today that are the result of "safe" Congressional districts and polarizing cable TV news and blogs.
November 30, 2013
Good summary of inside Washington thinking on foreign policy options. When he turns to the domestic front, becomes more predictably standard issue moderate conservative. The one item not dealt with, one of rising significance is that of the growing distance between rich and poor in the US. Going forward, it is difficult to see how this issue does not affect and constrain US domestic politics as well as the nation's foreign policy.
August 10, 2014
When I have more than, say, a dozen, "yeah, no kidding" moments when reading a book, it's probably too rudimentary for me. I admire Haass (even though he's clearly left of center) -- he's very bright, but this book was written for someone who doesn't follow international politics as closely as I do. There were several tidbits of good information but, overall, just more of the same. Regardless, I'm still glad I read it.
December 10, 2013
While there were quite a few good points made, many of which I support. Like getting addressing entitlement programs, investing in our infrastructure, and dealing with the deficit. However, I did think it was a little thin on policy recommendations to really address these problems. It's a good start to begin thinking about these important issues and their relationship to foreign policy. It just needed more!
June 22, 2013
A Well written primer with think pieces on the current conditions facing the U.S. While offering vectors, Haass leaves the implementation and execution to those interested and with vested interest to keep this country vibrant. The challenge for the casual reader, polcy wonk, appointed and elected officials is whether "we the people" will work towards achieving a common good.
May 26, 2013
The guy gives good brief; 20 excellent memos. Sad that Haass felt book needed to be written at all. Most of what is recommended therein is blindingly obvious and has been implemented by other advanced industrial countries since the early '90s.
August 17, 2013
I picked up this book after watching Stephen Colbert badger the author, and was anticipating an argument for isolationism from this foreign policy advisor who's worked for four presidents. Instead, I found well supported plan I hope is being considered by our current policy makers in Washington.
December 28, 2013
This is very sensible book. To be able to successfully influence the rest of the world, USA has to show an excellent example by putting its own house in order. It is also likely, that no policy maker will be interested in converting these thoughts into action.
September 7, 2014
Good review of foreign policy issues. Recommendations include cutting the debt. Most advocates of cutting the debt seem to not mention that Bush did nothing to pay for his wars. He cut taxes and said we should "go shopping" after 9/11. No sacrifices other than the dead soldiers.
February 3, 2015
Some political bias is obvious in the author's commentary. While he has some interesting ideas, he mainly explores one side of the issue enough to make the point. I was hoping for a more balanced approach. However, the larger point of putting our fiscal house in order is very real and clear.
August 4, 2013
A laundry list of things to be fixed at home. Suggestions were not unwise, just a bit...superficially treated.
August 2, 2013
An erudite look at American Foreign policy and the change it needs to take in the 21st century. Isolationism is neither an option nor a solution.
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