Great Powers: America and the World After Bush Hardcover - 2009

by Thomas P. Barnett

The author of the groundbreaking New York Timesbestseller The Pentagon's New Map brings us aremarkable analysis of the post-Bush world, andAmerica's leadership role in it.

In civilian and military circles alike, The Pentagon's New Mapbecame one of the most talked about books of 2004. 'Acombination of Tom Friedman on globalization and Carlvon Clausewitz on war, [it is] the red-hot book among thenation's admirals and generals,' wrote David Ignatius in TheWashington Post. Barnett's second book, Blueprint for Action,demonstrated how to put the first book's principles to work.Now, in Great Powers, Barnett delivers his most sweeping andimportant book of all.

For eight years, the current administration has done muchto disconnect or alienate America from the world, but the worldhas certainly not been standing still. Now, with a chance to startover, what do we do? Where's the world going now, and how dowe not only rejoin it but become a leader again in what hasbecome the most profound reordering of the globe since the endof World War II?

In Great Powers, Barnett offers a tour de force analysis of thegrand realignments that are both already here and coming upfast in the spheres of economics, diplomacy, defense, technology,security, the environment, and much more. The 'greatpowers' are no longer just the world's major nation-states butthe powerful forces, past, present, and future, moving with usand past us like a freight train. It is not a simple matter of acourse correction but of a complete recalibration, and the opportunitiesit presents are far greater than the perils. Barnett givesus a fundamental understanding of both, showing us not onlyhow the world is now but how it will be.

There are those writing now who say America is in decline. . . and we just have to deal with it. Barnett says no. Globalizationas it exists today was built by America and now it'stime for America to shape and redefine what comes next. GreatPowers shows us how. Bibliography. Notes. Index.