The Choice -- Zbigniew Brzezinski: A Book Review

The Choice: Global Domination or Global Leadership 
Zbigniew Brzezinski
Basic Books, 2004

How is it that America has become the leading economic power, the leading cultural indicator, and the most dominating military presence on the planet but still manages to be such an insecure entity in the world?  How can we be the leading promoters of globalization and at the same time fear that our economic livelihood as a nation is being undermined by that very same promotion?  How is it that American interests seem to promote general antipathy throughout the world?

Zbigniew Brzezinski, former National Security Advisor to President Jimmy Carter, tells us in The Choice: Global Domination or Global Leadership that we are poised at an historical crossroads, where we can continue pursuing unilateral policies that stir the enmity of the world or we can begin implementing plans to lead and ally ourselves diplomatically with various nations and international organizations to everyone's mutual benefit.  The first choice is the choice of empire and, ultimately, will result in increased wars and rebellions, the increased targeting of key American interests, and an eventual and probably devastating collapse, militarily and economically.  The latter holds the hope of peaceful coexistence and will keep the United States strong and effective as a facilitator or partner in the major policies that will shape the socioeconomic and sociopolitical future of the planet. 

Brzezinski brilliantly outlines the present state of American dominance, both real and perceived, and how said dominance affects policy decisions and the way these same decisions affect the rest of the world and our future role in it.  He maps out the various threats to our security as well -- militant Islam and the growth of an economic and military behemoth in China, among others.  Brzezinski contends that a more beneficial future lies in a more multilateral approach to world issues and suggests dispensing with unilateral authoritarianism altogether as a means of dealing with most issues.  Security is increased through cooperation with various alliances and not through military intervention and dominance (yet such intervention would remain a last resort option) becaise global security now is synonymous with American national security. 

The Choice informs us that as a global leader, America has the responsibilty to help maintain world order.  Brzezinski outlines the use of diplomatic cooperation to promote world stability, partnerships and multilateral agreements to offset international resentment, and using the virtual hegemonic network already in place to provide guidance and incentive.  He also warns against the double-edged sword of exported democracy, where democratic ideals aren't only foreign to some peoples, they may also be detrimental in gaining cooperation from certain entities.  Flexibility, compromise, negotiation, and diplomacy are the keys to a more secure United States and a more secure world.

The Choice is an excellent book, a scholarly achievement by one of the world's leading authorities on international politics.  Zbigniew Brzezinski presents us with this choice and provides us with two startlingly different futures.  America can either pursue unilateral policies that destabilizes various parts of the world, fosters international resentment and retaliatory measures, and places various interests at risk (this, by the way, is our current philosophy) or America can use its influence, power, and economic strengths to promote a general world partnership or flexible, mutally beneficial, alliances that can promote international stability in all its forms.  The latter can be done and needs to be.  The prosperous future of a democratic, generous, strong, and globally influential nation depends on it.