Play Book Tag discussion

(Hopefully this counts for the tag. Technically, it is not actual American history. It doesn't even take place in America... but as it his entirely about real American political policies and has several real events and real people within the fiction, I felt it fit the tag. Especially as it brought about real change in our political policy.)



I probably would have rated this novel higher ten or fifteen years ago, but as it stands now, I felt it was a tad dated. Granted, I’d still mark it as a classic, simply because of its historical importance. John F. Kennedy was a huge fan and this book, in part, is credited with the formation of the Peace Corps.

This political fiction highlights the egregious failures of the American diplomatic system in its struggles against Communism. Taking place in a fictional nation Sarkhan, meant to be a part of SE Asia, it would be easy to assume this book is entirely fictional, though the authors have inserted real people and events into the narrative.

Mainly, this book is a plea to Americans to cease seeing themselves as the center of the world. Locals of Sarkhan are lost to communism mainly as a result of American ignorance.

Through politicians that take their jobs only as a way to further their careers, or to prevent the end of said careers. Through entire networks of US officials who refuse to speak the language or learn local customs, unlike their Soviet counterparts, leaving themselves at the complete mercy of local translators. Many of whom, of course, minimize the impact of local events, for a variety of reasons. Some having to do with their own political machinations and some as simple as making their days a little easier, by not dealing with the panic and ignorant mishandling of the situation by an American politician.

There are many ways this is highlighted throughout the book. Such as the Soviets taking credit for American shipments of food, simply because they were able to re-label the shipments in the local language. (Which has happened.)

American workers are sent over without even basic training, taking citizens that have few skills and little hope for advancement at home and luring them with large paychecks. Further damaging relations with the locals as these Americans act like aristocrats. They treat the locals as servants. They host parties displaying their comparative wealth for all to see and insulate themselves against the outside world.

It’s also demonstrated in those few ignored souls. Those who are handling the situation more practically. The few who know that easier access to water, techniques to raise healthier livestock, food preservation technologies and other basic solutions will be much more beneficial to their relationship. These souls who see the root of the problem - the lack of self-sufficiency offered by most diplomatic aid. So they focus on providing solutions which are affordable and accessible to the people, though this doesn’t always prove to be an easy task.

Something as simple as creating a water pump quickly becomes an issue.

Sure, there are discarded parts from the recent war, but as a widespread solution, there is the problem of limited replacements. Bike operated water pumps are also an issue - as bikes are too dear to the local population to allow one to be permanently installed. One technician and his wife, aim to resolve this and other issues, with help of the locals.

Meanwhile the American government focuses on unnecessary new roads, while the local government ignores the real issues, too afraid to lose the “free” money and the jobs this silly project will create. Cooler heads are undermined with stonewalling politicians and distracted through various other means. Those with the power to influence these matters are often showed Sarkhan through very carefully planned tours, planting a distorted view.

Overall, I’d say this book is worth reading if you have the curiosity, but these same points have been expanded on in more recent fiction. It was a groundbreaking work at the time, but it is very much a work of its time. Most of the themes are still relevant today. It’s just that more recent works addressing the same themes are, perhaps, more nuanced.