Paradox of American Power

This title offers a critical appraisal of America's role in the present and future. While many contemporary "realist" scholars view China as America's most likely competitor, or envisage a Russia-China-India coalition, Nye feels that the real challenges to America's power come in the form of the very things that have made the last ten years so prosperous: the information revolution and globalization. In Nye's view, while these phenomena at first helped to increase America's "soft power" (its ability to influence the world through cultural, political, and other non-military means), they will soon threaten to dilute it. As technology spreads the Internet will become less US-centric, transnational corporations and non-governmental actors will gain power, and "multiple modernities" will mean that "being number 1 ain't gonna be what it used to be". Nye includes chapters on American power, the information revolution, globalization, American culture and politics, and "defining the national interest", along the way considering what the lessons of history have to tell us about what we should do with our unprecedented power - while we still have it.

"This elegantly constructed essay is about why an unrivalled military and economic power still needs allies or partners, and why, as world leader, America should rely also on the soft, persuasive kind of power: the appeal of its values and culture."—The Economist, "This reasoned and timely essay on the uses of power makes a valuable contribution to American public discourse."—Publishers Weekly, "Admirably compact...illuminating."—Christian Science Monitor, "Joseph Nye—consistently one of the wiser heads around—has produced, yet again, a lucid, forceful critique of American foreign policy and a sensible, far-sighted prescription for making American power more palatable and more effective around the world. In the wake of September 11, The Paradox of American Power could hardly be more timely. It reflects Nye's multiple experiences in government as well as his perspective as a scholar and thinker."—Strobe Talbott, Yale University, "Joe Nye is one of the most astute observers of the changing nature of international politics. His new book provides an excellent framework for viewing U.S. role in the 21st century and especially after the events of September 11."—Madeleine Albright

Joseph S. Nye, Jr., Dean of the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard, was Chairman of the National Intelligence Council and an Assistant Secretary of Defense in the Clinton administration. A frequent contributor to The New York Times, The Washington Post, and The Wall Street Journal, he is the author several books, including Governance in a Globalizing World and Bound to Lead: The Changing Nature of AmericanPower.