The rise of other global powers is most often posed as a sorry tale, full of threats to America's primacy, prosperity, and way of life. The potential loss of our #1 status implies a blow to our safety, economy, and prestige.

But this is a rare moment in history: none of the world's big powers is our adversaries. In The Next American Century, Nina Hachigian and Mona Sutphen show that the "pivotal powers" — China, Europe, India, Japan, and Russia — seek greater influence, but each has an enormous stake in the world economy and a keen desire to thwart common threats. India is a key ally in the struggle against terrorism. China's help is essential to containing pandemic disease. Russia is leading an effort to keep nuclear devices out of terrorists' hands. Japan and Europe are critical partners in tackling climate change. None of these countries is a direct military or ideological challenger. In fact, their gains largely help, rather than hurt, America's continuing prosperity, growth, and, to some extent, even its values. Will we have conflicts with these powers? Definitely. Some will be serious. But, by and large, they want what we want: a stable world and better lives for their citizens. We live in an era of opportunity, not of loss.

To take advantage of this moment, the United States must get its own house in order, making sure that American children can compete, American workers can adjust, America's military remains cutting-edge, and American diplomacy entices rather than alienates. While America must be prepared for the possibility that a hostile superpower may one day emerge, it has to be careful not to turn a distant, uncertain threat into an immediate one. Washington should welcome the pivotal powers into a vigorous international order to share the burden of solving pressing global problems of peace, climate, health, and growth.

The avenue to a truly safer and more prosperous world runs through the pivotal powers. With them, we can build a world where Americans will thrive, today and tomorrow.

"With a major shift in American foreign policy, the U.S. can step into a new leadership role in the world, argue Hachigian and Sutphen in this lucid and compelling book. Drawing on their experiences working for the National Security Council during the Clinton administration, as well as a variety of studies, public opinion polls and scholarly work, their central thesis rests on the assertion that the United States must pursue 'strategic collaboration' with the 'pivotal powers' — China, European Union, India, Japan and Russia. In making this recommendation, the book surveys the major threats facing the United States and the pivotal powers, the ideological tensions between the U.S. and these powers, and attitudes within the powers toward America. Unsurprisingly, given their rsums, Hachigian and Sutphen explicitly criticize the Bush administration's record. But their approach to policy is pragmatic — for example, while the authors acknowledge legitimate concerns about engaging with China, they offer convincing evidence against containment as a viable alternative. Synthesizing a vast amount of material while advancing their arguments, the authors have produced a persuasive text." Publishers Weekly (Copyright Reed Business Information, Inc.)

"At a time when the United States far too often sees the world in 'us against them' terms, The Next American Century is a wonderful corrective. It proposes 'strategic collaboration.' It recognizes that national security begins at home, with education, health care, infrastructure, and all that ensures that America remains the land of opportunity and innovation." — Anne-Marie Slaughter, Dean, Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs, Princeton University

"This lively and strikingly commonsense book offers a refreshing alternative to the customary prophesies of doom and the obsessive search for a new archenemy. Nina Hachigian and Mona Sutphen also suggest an unpretentious but constructive formula for America's resumption of responsible world leadership." — Brian Urquhart, former Under-Secretary-General of the UN

"Finally, a thoughtful (and thought-provoking) book that tells us the positive strategic news about the rise of China, India, and other emerging global powers, without glossing over the challenges." — Dan Burstein, coauthor of Secrets of 24

"The Next American Century describes brilliantly why the world's rising powers are not only necessary competitors but essential partners. The main challenge is to accept challenge. This positive, down-to-earth reminder should be essential reading." — Matt Miller, author of The 2 Percent Solution

Preface
Acknowledgments
Introduction
1. Safety in Numbers
2. Indirect Threats: The Queasy Feeling
3. The Battle of Ideas?
4. U.S. Prosperity and the Pivotal Powers
5. Repairing the Innovation Engine
6. The Powers' Perspectives
7. The Way Forward: Strategic Collaboration
8. Making It Happen
Conclusion
Notes
Index