The Empty Throne: America's Abdication of Global Leadership

by Ivo H. Daalder, James M. Lindsay

American diplomacy is in shambles, but beneath the daily chaos is an erosion of the postwar order that is even more dangerous. America emerged from the catastrophe of World War II convinced that global engagement and leadership were essential to prevent another global conflict and further economic devastation. That choice was not inevitable, but its success proved monumental. It brought decades of great power peace, underpinned the rise in global prosperity, and defined what it meant to be an American in the eyes of the rest of the world for generations. It was an historic achievement. Now, America has abdicated this vital leadership role. The Empty Throne is an inside portrait of the greatest lurch in US foreign policy since the decision to retreat back into Fortress America after World War I. The whipsawing of US policy has upended all that America's postwar leadership created-strong security alliances, free and open markets, an unquestioned commitment to democracy and human rights. Impulsive, theatrical, ill-informed, backward-looking, bullying, and reckless are the qualities that the American president brings to the table, when he shows up at all. The world has had to absorb the spectacle of an America unmaking the world it made, and the consequences will be with us for years to come.

Genres: Politics, Nonfiction, History, International Relations, International Affairs, United States, American

256 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 1, 2018

About the author

Ivo Daalder served on the national security council staff in the Clinton administration and is now a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution. His most recent book, America Unbound: The Bush Revolution in Foreign Policy (with James M. Lindsay) won the 2003 Lionel Gelber Prize.

Daalder was educated at the University of Kent, Oxford University, and Georgetown University, and received his Ph.D. in political science from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

He was fellow at Harvard University's Center for Science and International Affairs and the International Institute for Strategic Studies in London. He received a Pew Faculty Fellowship in International Affairs and an International Affairs Fellowship of the Council on Foreign Relations. Daalder was an associate professor at the University of Maryland's School of Public Affairs, where he was also director of research at the Center for International and Security Studies. He was a Senior Fellow in foreign policy studies at the Brookings Institution from 1997 to 2009, where he was a specialist in European security, transatlantic relations, and national security affairs.

Reviews

[David Wineberg · Rating 5 out of 5]

The world is much less safe and far more uncertain, because the world’s premiere power has abandoned its position. That is basis of The Empty Throne, Ivo Daalder and James Lindsay’s new book. It is a stomach-churning recounting of all the many instances where Donald Trump ignored protocol, betrayed America’s’ friends, sidled up to authoritarians, destroyed relationships, and undermined the rule of law. The book is focused purely on the foreign policy aspects of the Administration after less than two years, and that is more than enough.

The three pillars of foreign policy are security alliances, open trade, and support for democracy, human rights and the rule of law. Trump has trampled all of them, with nothing whatever to show for it. Instead, the authors say, America’s partners have gone on without it, negotiating new multilateral trade treaties that don’t include it and which the US will find impossible to join later because it had no input. On the political front, China has stepped up to take over the top dog spot, without having to fire a shot, even a verbal one. Incredibly, global polls show more people have faith in President for Life Xi Jinping than in Donald Trump. The leader of the free world is not.

For Trump, every treaty is the worst in history. Everyone is getting rich while the USA is getting poorer. Nothing could be further from the truth, of course. American policy has been a tightly constructed plan to take advantage of other countries by allowing them to bloom. At the same time, their success allows the US not to have to physically take control or occupy, saving it a fortune. The American Empire is based on increasing wealth, mostly its own. And it has worked well for decades. By leading, not “winning”. Unlike the friends of other nations, The Empty Throne says, US allies have been “multipliers of American power and values.” Greasing the skids has been massively successful. Now, no one knows what to expect. But it can’t be as good.

Instead of a worldwide trading system, Trump insists on bilateral trade deals, presumably 200 of them, a massive undertaking that could consume decades. Yet not a single country offered to start talks on such a deal throughout 2017. They know they are much better off with a global marketplace than a bilateral one. So for the great dealmaker, there is not a single deal to show off, not in trade and not in politics. Iran, Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan and North Korea have agreed to nothing with Donald Trump’s Administration. The US has not “won” anything, anywhere. And it is no longer leading. “Trump’s policies emphasized theatrics. They ignored fundamentals,” the authors say.


They point out that Trump took out a full page ad in the New York Times in 1987, laying out all the same foreign policy criticisms he still employs. He hasn’t changed in 30 years. His is an Administration of One. He needs no advisors; he knows everything himself. His own staff, departments and military are given no more respect than Mexico or Australia, and far less than Russia or Saudi Arabia. Trump’s world is lean and mean. And crass. He used his speaking time at the UN General Assembly to threaten to demolish another country, the very thing America set up the UN to avoid.

The world has no idea what to make of it, and seems to be just watching. The authors cite Napoleon : “Never interrupt your enemy while he’s making a mistake,” and so the world is calm while Donald Trump rampages over America’s friends while sidling up to its foes.

The chaos at the Department of State is embarrassing. Ambassadors around the world are quitting for lack of support and direction, when there is not outright contradiction, making their jobs impossible. The Secretary of State found out he was fired – on Twitter - after most of the world knew. Trump claims his actions have made allies “like us better” and “respect us more”. But Pew Research found that respect for American leadership is plunging around the world, and most of all with its allies. According to polls, the US has fallen to third place in global leadership, just barely ahead of Russia. This is no one’s idea of greater respect – except for Trump.

The authors wisely avoid speculation. They do not venture down the road of the dollar no longer being the reserve currency, or how China might choose to reshape the world in its own image. But they are dumfounded that Trump would simply abandon the throne – without a deal to make up for it. As Jia Qingguo said, “The US is not losing leadership. You’re giving it up. You’re not even selling it.” China can’t believe its great luck.

David Wineberg

[Emmet Sullivan · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’ve developed a real disdain for the genre of books that are just different ways of saying “Trump was bad” but trying to disguise that statement within some grander thesis. This book fits squarely into that category.

I picked it up because, based on the subtitle, I thought it would be a book that traced American foreign policy decisions and successes/failures over the years. I thought there would be some serious discussions about “America’s abdication of global leadership”, and what that abdication means for the present and future of international relations. Given that this train of thought is literally the text of the subtitle of the book, I felt these were reasonable expectations and a potentially interesting topic for a book.

But instead, it’s just a 180 page rant that can be summed up in the sentence “Trump did a bunch of stupid foreign policy stuff.” It’s full of exaggerations, questionable assumptions, and outright ignorance of any inconvenient or contrary evidence.

I don’t mean for any of this to sound like I endorse any particular foreign policies of any specific presidents, and perhaps I am being unfair to the authors. But I’ve become genuinely annoyed that so many publishers will allow authors eager to get their “Trump is bad” takes out there do so by using downright misleading titles & subtitles. Again, I’m fine with people voicing their critiques. But don’t “trojan horse” a reader into thinking they’re going to get a serious foreign policy thesis when it’s just your op-ed style whining.

[Daniel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliantly written.

I have met James Lindsay at the University of Bonn in Germany when he presented this book to us Master students. Having written my MA thesis on a very similar topic and transatlantic relations in general, I can recommend this book to everyone who is interested in Trump's foreign policy (or rather lack thereof) and what damages it brought to the world and the international rules based order.

[Eric · Rating 4 out of 5]

In The Empty Throne, Ivo Daalder and James Lindsay highlight Trump's foreign policy successes while not pulling punches about his failures. Daalder and Lindsay present the US's foreign policy as a historical continuity from President Wilson and the League of Nations to Truman and the Marshall Plan to Bush's unilateral aggression to Obama's leading from behind to Trump's nationalism. This even-handed look at the current administration is fascinating, fair, and balanced. Written in a scholarly, detached tone, The Empty Throne attempts an objective evaluation of the Trump administration's efforts thus far. How successful they were in their attempt will largely depend on the reader's political affiliation. For me, this is a much needed look that walks a fine line in a deeply divided nation. Daalder and Lindsay present a well written, academic tone that's accessible to everyone. The Empty Throne is highly recommended to political junkies who want an accurate view without the incendiary rhetoric.

7.5 out of 10!

Disclaimer: I was provided an electronic copy of this book in exchange for a fair review.

[Andy Kostrub · Rating 2 out of 5]

A conventional review of Trump's foreign policy decisions up to the Summer of 2018 by two very conventional, mainstream leaders of conventional foreign policy think tanks. Nothing very surprising or new, not many unique insights. Trump's decisions were bad for America's image and standing in the world, and failed even to achieve his aims. They were theatrical acts designed to make Trump feel powerful, regardless of the impact. The authors offer no solutions except for an implied return to the American world leadership that began after WWII.

"Trump's insistence that the United States was like every other country, free to pursue its narrow interests and not obligated to pursue a common good, only encouraged skepticism that America represented broader interests and values."

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good synopsis of how Trump has abdicated US leadership in confronting host of global issues.

[Lianne Burwell · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the last couple of years, I've tortured myself with books about politics. Tortured through either books that look at things done well in the past, or looking at the current US president and the things he is doing completely wrong.

The Empty Throne looks at foreign policy and the ways that Trump (and previous presidents to a lesser extent) have failed in that foreign policy. The Next Decade, by George Friedman, which I am just finishing, also looks at foreign policy and suggest goals for the upcoming decade (the book was written a decade ago, so he was talking about the 2010s). Somehow, I don't think he took Trump into consideration

In both books, foreign policy is described in very pragmatic terms of playing other countries off of each other for the benefit of the US, not going for the idealistic goals of improving other countries and encouraging democracy around the world. The Empty throne then looks at Trump's actions in relation to foreign policy, and especially his behaviour towards Russia and North Korea and Iran, as well as his hostility towards traditional allies, and Trump comes up looking very foolish, if not downright dangerous.

And the sad thing is, if the author was writing the book today, he would have even more material. He might even be able to double the length of the book.

I would definitely read a follow-up at the end of the Trump presidency, whether next year or in five years. No matter how tortuous it might be


Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for letting me read this

[Dido · Rating 4 out of 5]

Boeiende uiteenzetting over de rol van amerika in de wereldpolitiek en de koers die verschillende presidenten daarbij aanhielden. Moeite met het invullen van ´de troon´ hadden de meeste presidenten klaarblijkelijk en allen kwamen pas in de loop van hun presidentschap tot een klare invulling. De koers van Trump is daarentegen een radicale wijziging ten opzichte van de laatste 80 jaar. De traditionele vijanden krijgen complimenten en douceurtjes en de traditionele vrienden komen er bekaaid af. Het is maar afwachten of dat Amerika goed zal doen.
Het feit dat Trump in zijn eerste termijn met een functionerende overheid van doen had, gaf nog enige koers aan het beleid. Nu zijn tweede termijn gestart is, is het hopen dat zulke sturende krachten ook aanwezig blijven.

[Niklas · Rating 3 out of 5]

Unfortunately this book felt largely like reading the news. It lacked the depth that I hoped for and only tackled what it means to be a global leader on a very superficial level. Maybe my expectations where wrong, but then again I wouldn't know who this book is actually directed at. It was published two years into the Trump administration, memories where fresh then and are still. If you read it ten years from now it will only tell you half the story that was Trump's foreign policy. I guess if you are looking for an overview of the first two years and an introduction into the general departure from traditional U.S. - foreign policy this book might be for you.

[George Odera · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book can be described as a journal of events surrounding the Trump foreign policy. Easy to rid if you're solicitous on modern geopolitics. The slight blemish to the book, I need to say, is that it proceeds in the premise that global leadership will, as a plenary, always serve American interests. In the last chapter, the books picks an alarmist tone, whose justification or lack of it thereof, only time will tell. Overall, an informative book.

[Dale · Rating 2 out of 5]

The authors perpetrate like this is about the decline of American leadership since the end of the Cold War but this book is really about Trump bashing. I appreciate a candid discussion, but do not need a whole book about how President Trump has led us astray, we have Bob Woodward for that. Apparently there are some individuals in the Trump administration that were hapless victims of the President's uninformed whites. Please, I have read their books and everyone was on the bus.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I saw the author on the show GPS recently and found his comments compelling. An excellent analysis of the current administration’s grossly over simplistic and destructive foreign policy. What I am left wondering is whether or not this country can reclaim our leadership role in the world. We are capable of accomplishing great things but are those opportunities forever lost?

[Liam Owen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Written by Obama era advisors, the book obviously has a stance that may or may not be backed up in fact, but the writing is compelling and the book is fairly easy to read. Chapter 9 is particularly good

[Grant · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Empty Throne is a well-articulated and digestible summary of foreign policy (or lack thereof) in the Trump era, but as a regular listener to Jim Lindsay's work on The President's Inbox and The World Next Week, I didn't find the book offered many new or original insights.

[Betty]

Though not much of the information itself was new to me, it was good to see it put together and realize the major consequences of Trumps foreign policy.

[Susan Arra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very clear and concise....so happy 2020 election results will turn the US back on course!

[Punky Brewster · Rating 1 out of 5]

Disgusting CFR and NATO pigs

[Jason · Rating 3 out of 5]

A great summation of the state of American global leadership. More “what has been done” than policy prescription. While I appreciate the historical and normative context the authors put it in, I would have liked to read more discussion on remedying the situation.

[Scottnshana · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book speaks to the fact that the entire post-WWII rule set is in jeopardy, then asks who benefits from attacking it. The US—and for most of us this is common sense—does not. We had a golden opportunity, shortly after Hitler killed himself and the Enola Gay made its most famous flight, to pull back from the isolationism and “Lord of the Flies”-type foreign policy that precipitated the World Wars and the Great Depression. As refugees criss-crossed the wasted European landscape trying to get home, as empires were dying, as the Red Army was raping, looting, and settling old scores in the lands to the East—the new American President stepped forward, grabbed the flaming sack with both hands, and enacted his predecessor’s vision. I believe the variable was the fact that Truman and FDR had first-hand experience of these awful events, and had learned since 1918 that pulling back to our borders and hoping the world would sort itself out—even when we had the bomb and no one else did—was not viable. As the book’s “Winning Again” chapter elucidates, “The Greatest Generation instead looked to work with others, organizing collective security, opening up markets, and promoting democracy, human rights, and rule of law. The strategy calculated that creating the space for other countries to flourish would enable the United States to flourish as well.” To be blunt—America led. And until recently (when, unfortunately, the Greatest Generation and its own first-hand experience is passing on), America was great, because we had buy-in from the best nations on the planet for this highly effective post-1945 vision. “The Empty Throne” argues that we’re slipping by making everything transactional, measuring effectiveness by dollars banked, and advocating for breaking up the alliances that have ensured “collective security, open economies, and democratic values” for the last 75 years. It’s hard to quantify that kind of greatness, but I believe Mr. Daalder and Mr. Lindsay have put some intellectual heavy lifting into arguing for it.

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Observations aren’t particularly new or more worthy for someone who follows American foreign policy closely, but enjoyed the writing style and easy to read