America in Retreat, Michael Pembroke
America in Retreat, Michael Pembroke
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America in Retreat
The Decline of US Leadership from WW2 to Covid-19

Author: Michael Pembroke

Narrator: Eric Jason Martin

Unabridged: 7 hr 57 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: Tantor Media

Published: 03/09/2021


Synopsis

In the heady days after 1945, the authority of the United States was unrivaled and, with the founding of the UN, a new era of international co-operation seemed to have begun. But seventy-five years later, its influence has already diminished. The world has now entered a post-American era, argues Michael Pembroke, defined by a flourishing Asia and the ascendancy of China, as much as by the decline of the United States.

This book is a short history of that decline; how high standards and treasured principles were ignored; how idealism was replaced by hubris and moral compromise; and how adherence to the rule of law became selective. It is also a look into the future—a future dominated by greater Asia and China in particular. We are in the midst of the third great power shift in modern history—from Europe to America to Asia.

Covering wars in Korea, Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan, interventions in Iran, Guatemala and Chile, and a retreat from international engagement with the UN, WHO and, increasingly, trade agreements, Pembroke sketches the history of America's retreat from universal principles to provide a clear-eyed analysis of the dangers of American exceptionalism.

About Michael Pembroke

Michael Pembroke was educated at the Universities of Sydney and Cambridge and was a Director's Visitor in 2017 at the Institute for Advanced Study, Princeton, New Jersey. A former New South Wales Supreme Court judge (2010-20), he is the author of Korea: Where the American Century Began.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Dave

For decades it has been conventional social wisdom ( and something of a cliche) that the US cannot be the world's policeman. This is not true according to Bret Stephens. The author uses this book to make the case that the US must be the world's policeman because no one else can. He is clearly correc......more

Normally, as a rule, I'm not public about my political preferences (and I really hope this review doesn't reveal any of them in particularly). When I first started this book the introduction really put me off. The voice of the narrator was very pretentious and conceited. And I'll be even more honest......more

Probably 3.5, I really liked the chapters as it got to the end and I thought it was really insightful and a good read. Chapters 8 9 and 10 I thought were especially good.......more