The Ideas That Conquered The World: Peace, Democracy, And Free Markets In The Twenty-first Century - Softcover

Mandelbaum, Michael

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1586482068 ISBN 13: 9781586482060

Publisher: PublicAffairs, 2004

Synopsis

At the dawn of the twenty-first century, three ideas dominate the world: peace as the preferred basis for relations between and among different countries, democracy as the optimal way to organize political life, and free markets as the indispensable vehicle for the creation of wealth. While not practiced everywhere, these ideas have--for the first time in history--no serious rivals. And although the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, were terrible and traumatic, they did not "change everything," as so many commentators have asserted. Instead, these events served to illuminate even more brightly the world that emerged from the end of the Cold War.

In The Ideas That Conquered the World, Michael Mandelbaum describes the uneven spread (over the past two centuries) of peace, democracy, and free markets from the wealthy and powerful countries of the world's core, where they originated, to the weaker and poorer countries of its periphery. And he assesses the prospects for these ideas in the years to come, giving particular attention to the United States, which bears the greatest responsibility for protecting and promoting them, and to Russia, China, and the Middle East, in which they are not well established and where their fate will affect the rest of the world.

Drawing on history, politics, and economics, this incisive book provides a clear and original guide to the main trends of the twenty-first century, from globalization to terrorism, through the perspective of one of our era's most provocative thinkers.

About this title

About the Author:

Michael Mandelbaum is the Christian A. Herter Professor of American Foreign Policy at the School of Advanced International Studies of The Johns Hopkins University, and is a senior fellow of the Council on Foreign Relations. He is a regular foreign affairs columnist for Newsday and the author or co-author of eight books on foreign policy.

Review:

"A formidable and thought-provoking tour d'horizon. Best of all, it gives readers something to argue about." -- New York Times Book Review, September 22, 2002

"A thoughtful and powerful...analysis of the triumphant and ongoing impact of the ideas of peace, democracy and free markets." -- Richard Reeves, Universal Press Syndicate, September 4, 2002

"An important and compelling new book." -- Thomas L. Friedman, New York Times, September 15, 2002.

"If you are trying to put the events of Sept. 11 in some overall historical context...I recommend Mandelbaum's new book." -- James Klurfeld, Newsday, September 5, 2002.

"Mandelbaum captures with considerable scholarship and clarity the general underpinnings of current international relations and the possibilities for the future." -- The Weekly Standard, October 21, 2002

"The strength of this volume is in Mandelbaum's analysis of the diplomatic and economic sinews that hold together today's world..." -- David Shribman, Chicago Tribune, October 6, 2002

"This is a timely and relevant analysis. Mandelbaum speaks powerfully and insightfully to our vexing and manifold challenges." -- Charlotte Observer, November 11, 2002

"Truly fascinating...It is well worth reading." -- Judith Regan, Judith Regan Show, September 28, 2002.

"an excellent historical understanding of the evolution of the Western liberal ideas of free trade, democracy, and peace." -- Parameters, Summer 2003.

About this edition

• Publisher: PublicAffairs
• Publication date: 2004
• ISBN 10: 1586482068
• ISBN 13: 9781586482060
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 528