A World in Disarray

American Foreign Policy and the Crisis of the Old Order

By: Richard Haass

Narrated by: Dan Woren, Richard Haass

Length: 8 hrs and 53 mins

Publisher's summary

An examination of a world increasingly defined by disorder and a United States unable to shape the world in its image, from the president of the Council on Foreign Relations.

Things fall apart; the center cannot hold. The rules, policies, and institutions that have guided the world since World War II have largely run their course. Respect for sovereignty alone cannot uphold order in an age defined by global challenges from terrorism and the spread of nuclear weapons to climate change and cyberspace. Meanwhile, great power rivalry is returning. Weak states pose problems just as confounding as strong ones. The United States remains the world’s strongest country, but American foreign policy has at times made matters worse, both by what the US has done and by what it has failed to do. The Middle East is in chaos, Asia is threatened by China’s rise and a reckless North Korea, and Europe, for decades the world’s most stable region, is now anything but. As Richard Haass explains, the election of Donald Trump and the unexpected vote for “Brexit” signals that many in modern democracies reject important aspects of globalization, including borders open to trade and immigrants.

In A World in Disarray, Haass argues for an updated global operating system - call it world order 2.0 - that reflects the reality that power is widely distributed and that borders count for less. One critical element of this adjustment will be adopting a new approach to sovereignty, one that embraces its obligations and responsibilities as well as its rights and protections. Haass also details how the US should act towards China and Russia, as well as in Asia, Europe, and the Middle East. He suggests, too, what the country should do to address its dysfunctional politics, mounting debt, and the lack of agreement on the nature of its relationship with the world.

A World in Disarray is a wise examination, one rich in history, of the current world, along with how we got here and what needs doing. Haass shows that the world cannot have stability or prosperity without the United States, but that the United States cannot be a force for global stability and prosperity without its politicians and citizens reaching a new understanding.

©2017 Richard Haass (P)2017 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

“A valuable primer on foreign policy: A primer that concerned citizens of all political persuasions - not to mention the president and his advisers - could benefit from reading.” (Michiko Kakutani, The New York Times )

"A must-read for the new American president and all who are concerned by the state of the world and the prospect of things getting worse. Richard Haass takes the reader galloping through the last four centuries of history to explain how we got to where we are, and then offers an insightful and strategically coherent approach to coping with and managing the challenges before us. Practical and provocative: a book that sets the policy table. (Robert M. Gates)

"Haass’s views demand the highest respect, because he understands that the foremost requirement for stability is that the great nations can deal with each other, and should use diplomacy, an art that recent British governments have almost abandoned in favour of soundbite broadcasts, and that in America threatens to be displaced by a tweetocracy. He understands the limits of power, and of the possible: terrorism must be contained, but cannot be eliminated. China and Russia must be granted respect on the world stage, but a willingness to resist their acts of aggression must be supported by credible western armed forces. America needs to change its Middle East policy, but cannot conceivably walk away from the region. If we had grounds to suppose that the new tenant of the White House was taking Haass’s book to his bed with him, the rest of us might sleep a tad easier in ours." (Sunday Times)

Should be taught in schools.

Enlightening overview of America's historic place in the world and our place in the world's future. Not just observations of what is, but also full of good, I think, ideas about our path forward.

A difficult yet interesting book

I appreciate the structure of the book. However for the amount of content, I wish the language used was made the book more accessible. Getting through the book took a while. Perhaps I was not the intended audience.

dry but worth the time

if you're involved with the government in any capacity then check this out. it is interesting but dry.

An interesting summary of the "Establishment" POV

This is required reading for anyone looking to understand geopolitics, because it represents one of the foundations of the discipline - how the game is played by those who are in it. Haass is very much the "Establishment". You need to temper this perspective by reading other authors, and also those from disciplines such as international law and human rights, economics and development.

The book can basically be categorised into two halves - introduction and basics of foreign policy, which many readers will be familiar with, but is a good place to start for beginners (as long as you temper it with other POVs). The second half is Haass' own theory for how international relations should develop in a globalised future - under, of course, the kind and fatherly eye of the USA.

I look at the world politic and how we got here

oh well narrated and interesting look at World politics and how we got here. didn't agree with all of his analysis and solutions . but good discussion points

Informative. Left me optimistic and pessimistic

Where does A World in Disarray rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Fairly high in my nonfiction list. The narration was clear and informative. The author describes the complexity of the world very well and suggests some reasonable policy prescriptions that are thought provoking but unattainable in our current broken political system.

What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)

Left me pessimistic.

Have you listened to any of Dan Woren and Richard Haass ’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No.

What’s the most interesting tidbit you’ve picked up from this book?

The fundamental need for an informed electorate is essential for progress in the future.

Any additional comments?

Mr. Haass is obviously well qualified to address the issues covered in this book. I found the book generally thought provoking and apolitical. I may buy the earlier book he wrote on our domestic issues.

good for learning history in a hurry

'expert' conclusions, however, overtaken by the presence making this reading less if not at all relevant
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Great read; the ending snuck up on me.

Thorough overview of how we got to this moment and clear solutions for the future.

Important read

Every American should read this book. And Richard Haass should at least be national security advisor.

should be required reading for politicians

and really everyone in the United States. not boring, stays on task well put together very good stuff