Of Paradise and Power: America and Europe in the New World Order

When historians want to find out about the ideas that motivated American foreign policy in the early years of the twenty first century, they would do well to read this book. Robert Kagan has formally set out a case for unilateralism on the part of the United States, as opposed to the multilateralism now characteristic of Europe. The U.S. is now quicker to use military force, less patient with diplomacy, and more willing to coerce or bribe other nations to achieve a desired result. By contrast, European nations are trying to work together, preserving the ties of diplomacy, cooperation, long-term problem-solving, and international law - signs of weakness. Kagan believes that the United States can disregard a weak Europe, and have a free hand in pursuing its global interests.

Review :
"Kagan is an ideal position to dissect what is wrong in the United States-European relationship and why. He does so with a surgeon's skill, stripping away layer after layer to reveal what in the end is a remarkable conclusion." "--The New York Times" "A compact and arresting book. . . . Highly readable. It is also a hard-hitting, unsentimental and yet liberal and humane manifesto." --"The Sunday Times" (London) "Lucid and elegant. . . . It is hard to imagine any future serious discussion of trans-Atlantic relations or America's role in the world without reference to [Of Paradise and Power]." --"The New York Times Book Review ""Kagan is one of America's finest commentators on issues of foreign policy. He writes elegantly, has an excellent command of history and consistently demonstrates superior intelligence and insight. . . . This book could not have been more timely." "--Los Angeles Times Book Review" "I consider this one of those seminal treatises without which any discussion of European-American relations would be incomplete and which will shape that discussion for years to come." --Dr. Henry Kissinger "A book worthy of every thinking person on both sides of the Atlantic. It is hard to imagine so complex a subject being explained so clearly and so compellingly . . . A contribution unlikely to be equaled." --"Times Higher Education Supplement" (London)"For its brilliant juxtaposition of strategy and philosophy, of the realities of power and the ethics of power, of the American ideal of justice and the European ideal of peace, Robert Kagan's small book is a big book. Nothing like this has been written since the death of Raymond Aron." --Leon Weiseltier "Subtle and brilliant."--"The New Republic " ""Cogent" and "important" best describe this slim book, its lack of vast pages belying the weightiness of its message. . . . Controversial arguments, certainly, but this book deserves to be read by all conscientious citizens.