Synopses & Reviews
Free-market capitalism, hegemony, Western culture, peace, and democracy--the ideas that shaped world politics in the twentieth century and underpinned American foreign policy--have lost a good deal of their strength. Authority is now more contested and power more diffuse. Hegemony (benign or otherwise) is no longer a choice, not for the United States, for China, or for anyone else.
Steven Weber and Bruce Jentleson are not declinists, but they argue that the United States must take a different stance toward the rest of the world in this, the twenty-first century. Now that we can't dominate others, we must rely on strategy, making trade-offs and focusing our efforts. And they do not mean military strategy, such as "the global war on terror." Rather, we must compete in the global marketplace of ideas--with state-directed capitalism, with charismatic authoritarian leaders, with jihadism. In politics, ideas and influence are now critical currency.
At the core of our efforts must be a new conception of the world order based on mutuality, and of a just society that inspires and embraces people around the world.
Review
Weber and Jentleson put forward a powerful and provocative view of the coming frontiers for foreign policy--a global competition of ideas. Their arguments pose the right challenge to governments, corporations, and NGOs operating on a global stage, and provide practical advice for what to do about it. Ronald Brownstein - National Journal
Review
The End of Arrogance makes a strong case for the end of the hegemony of American ideas in the foreign-policy sphere, examines what a more complex and diverse set of influences could create in terms of a future world order, and offers some important advice on how America can keep up in a more competitive world. Foreign Affairs
Review
In this little book, two leading scholars offer a manifesto for U.S. leadership in a post-Western international system...Acknowledging that no country has a monopoly on good ideas, the book makes a good case that the United States needs to recast the way it talks about its role in the world. G. John Ikenberry
Review
Dazzling. G. John Ikenberry - Foreign Affairs
Review
Dazzling. Elizabeth Dickinson - Foreign Policy blog
About the Author
Steven Weberis Professor of Political Science, <>University of California, Berkeley.Bruce W. Jentlesonis Professor of Public Policy and Political Science at Duke University.