From Parameters, a special section on American Power in Transition. From PUP, the introduction to America in the World: A History in Documents from the War with Spain to the War on Terror; and the first chapter from Good-Bye Hegemony! Power and Influence in the Global System by Simon Reich and Richard Ned Lebow. Marcus Brauchli reviews Maximalist: America in the World from Truman to Obama by Stephen Sestanovich. From The Economist, no other country comes close to America’s hard power, but its lead is slipping; America is no longer as alarming to its foes or reassuring to its friends; and a nagging doubt is eating away at the world order — and the superpower is largely ignoring it. Sorry, America, the New World Order is dead. Who can control the post-superpower capitalist world order? In a divided and dangerous world, we need to teach the new powers some manners, says Slavoj Zizek. America the Gentle Giant: Kristin Lord and Stephen J. Hadley on how the United States can shape the world without boots on the ground and bombs in the air. Superpowers don't get to retire: Robert Kagan on what our tired country still owes the world. Robert Kaplan writes in defense of empire: It can ensure stability and protect minorities better than any other form of order — the case for a tempered American imperialism. Curtis F. Jones on the anachronism of empire. Against disengagement: Brian Katulis on how today’s progressives are often as muddled in their thinking about U.S. involvement in the world as conservatives are divided. Obama vs. the Hawks: Critics have branded him weak and feckless on foreign policy, but an inside look reveals how the president faced down the war machine. No hawks here: Stephen Walt on how when it comes to conflict in world politics, realists are the peaceniks of post-Cold War America. As George Kennan inspired Truman’s foreign policy, now Stephen Walt inspires Obama’s.
