America Alone: The Neo-Conservatives and the Global Order

by Stefan Halper, Jonathan Clarke

Used wisely, America's immense military power can preserve freedom but used unwisely, it can fracture global stability. Stefan Halper and Jonathan Clarke argue, that as long as neo-conservative radicals dominate the nation's national security process, fracture is more likely. Assuming Americans will see increasing threats in the future, this book is important because it identifies the factions and agendas involved. It advocates an alternative approach based on a return to the mainstream principles that have successfully guided American diplomacy for half a century. years.

Genres: Politics, Nonfiction, American

384 pages, Paperback

First published June 21, 2004

Reviews

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book sophomore year of college. I rate this book very highly because it was the first book that really opened my eyes to the realities of the neoconservative movement and explained how it impacted foreign policy, particularly the Bush administration's policy. The authors take a well-researched, academic approach which enhances their credibility greatly. This is not one of those ranting, raving political books that just rails about how awful Bush is, which makes its conclusions all the more powerful. I would definitely recommend this book if you want to understand the history of the neoconservative movement, how it is different from the traditional conservative moment, and how the theories of neocons came to have such influence after 9/11.

[Reza Amiri Praramadhan · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Cold War had ended, democracy and capitalism stood over communism, America emerged as single world superpower, with world as its oyster. And the neocons ruined it. Although, that is to expect from those former trotskyists, lefties masquerading as rightists like they understand true conservatism, those liberal internationalists. Don’t get me wrong, I do believe in unipolarity, that America had its own unique opportunity to be a benign giant of the world, presiding over the world. In that way, I agree with the neocons. However, the similarity between me and neocons ends there. I also believe in speak softly and carry a big stick diplomacy, but it seems all that neocons interested is swinging the big stick around. While there are some urgent matters to attend to around the world, they chose to focus on Iraq, even by distorting truth and facts so that they suits the neocons need, such as Saddam and his fictional Weapons of Mass Destruction. By those idiotic deeds, instead of invoking respects for america around the world, anti-americanism sprung from around the world. An eye-opener, especially if you are interested on why neocons are not conservatives at all.

[Mo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Finally finished. I think that took 19 years..

Such a grind to get through, sad rationalizations on how the world was shaped politically through the aughts... With a lot depressing introspective moments of how the USA is being guided now. I guess it is a good primer for political neophytes on the complexity that surrounds and influences that field - the complexity of symbiotic relationships between actors (political, religious, academic, media, interest groups) which when formed consciously can manipulate public thought.

[Hubert · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best analyses of the neo-conservative movement I've read. The earlier chapters concerning the intellectual history of the movement are probably more useful than the chapters dealing with prescriptive measures which the authors suggest America should utilize going forward. The 'anti-Americanism' chapter also seems somewhat out of place. 10 years after its initial publication date, much of the conclusions and predictions the authors posited are eerily true.

[Joana Marinho · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent book on Bush Administration and the neoconservative decisive influence on the decisions taken after 9/11. The authors seek the roots on the neocon movement and bring clarity on issues such as anti-americanism and orientalism, with a very sharp critical eye.