The Next American Century

How the U.S. Can Thrive as Other Powers Rise

December 14, 2007

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Read reviews of The Next American Century.

The rise of other global powers is most often posed as a sorry tale, full of threats to America's primacy, prosperity, and way of life. The potential loss of our #1 status implies a blow to our safety, economy, and prestige.

But this is a rare moment in history: none of the world's big powers is our adversaries. In The Next American Century, Nina Hachigian and Mona Sutphen show that the "pivotal powers"—China, Europe, India, Japan, and Russia—seek greater influence, but each has an enormous stake in the world economy and a keen desire to thwart common threats. India is a key ally in the struggle against terrorism. China's help is essential to containing pandemic disease. Russia is leading an effort to keep nuclear devices out of terrorists' hands. Japan and Europe are critical partners in tackling climate change. None of these countries is a direct military or ideological challenger. In fact, their gains largely help, rather than hurt, America's continuing prosperity, growth, and, to some extent, even its values. Will we have conflicts with these powers? Definitely. Some will be serious. But, by and large, they want what we want: a stable world and better lives for their citizens. We live in an era of opportunity, not of loss.

To take advantage of this moment, the United States must get its own house in order, making sure that American children can compete, American workers can adjust, America's military remains cutting-edge, and American diplomacy entices rather than alienates. While America must be prepared for the possibility that a hostile superpower may one day emerge, it has to be careful not to turn a distant, uncertain threat into an immediate one. Washington should welcome the pivotal powers into a vigorous international order to share the burden of solving pressing global problems of peace, climate, health, and growth.

The avenue to a truly safer and more prosperous world runs through the pivotal powers. With them, we can build a world where Americans will thrive, today and tomorrow.

“Lucid and compelling. . . . Pragmatic. . . . Synthesizing a vast amount of material while advancing their arguments, the authors have produced a persuasive text.”

—Publishers Weekly

“Two former National Security Council staffers chart a course for U.S. success in the 21st century. . . . Hachigian and Sutphen effectively outline the benefits of this new, multipolar world. . . . A useful summary of conventional Democratic Establishment foreign-policy thinking, likely to gain currency as the race for the White House heats up.”

—Kirkus Reviews

“After the collapse of the Soviet Union, The oft-repeated mantra asserted that the world was now “unipolar” and dominated by the “hyperpower,” the U.S. It is now evident that the assertion was premature, as we witness the rapid economic growth of China and India, further European integration, and a resurgence of Russian economic strength. In a world that now appears, once again, to be multipolar, how can the U.S. remain influential, secure and prosperous? The authors offer plenty of implied criticism of Bush’s foreign policy, including his tendency to act unilaterally and how his overreliance on military force. But this is no partisan rant. They make solid points and offer sensible solutions. They usefully point out that on one of these emerging “pivotal powers” pose a direct threat to the U.S., unlike the Soviet Union during the cold war. Conservatives will undoubtedly find fault with their emphasis on America’s use of “soft” power to influence other governments and populations, while liberals may cringe over their devotion to free trade policies. But their well-presented arguments are worthy of serious consideration.”

—Jay Freeman, Booklist

Praise from the back cover:

“We live in an era of great opportunity. In The Next American Century, two brilliant young foreign policy thinkers argue that the growing strength of India, China, Japan, Russia and Europe, competitors but not enemies, can benefit the U.S. as long as we invest anew at home. The Next American Century provides a strong, practical, optimistic lesson that Americans should take to heart.”

—Brent Scowcroft, former National Security Adviser to Presidents Gerald R. Ford and George H.W. Bush

“The Next American Century describes brilliantly why the world’s rising powers are not only necessary competitors but essential partners. The main challenge is to accept challenge. This positive, down-to-earth reminder should be essential reading.”

—Matt Miller, Fortune magazine columnist and author of The 2 Percent Solution

“In this thought-provoking book, the next generation weighs in with a new framework for American leadership. On the eve of a pivotal election in which foreign policy is sure to be a central issue, The Next American Century offers a new approach to the crucial challenge of dealing with the world’ rising powers: China, Russia and India.”

—James Rubin, former Assistant Secretary of State under President Clinton

“The authors of The Next American Century offer a refreshing alternative to the customary prophesies of doom and the obsessive search for a new arch-enemy. Instead, they describe the opportunity presented by the fact that what they call the ‘pivotal powers’—Europe, Russia, China, India and Japan—are, at worst, economic rivals of the United States, and, at best, essential partners in dealing with global problems that threaten the world at large. In this lively and strikingly commonsense book, Nina Hachigian and Mona Sutphen also suggest an unpretentious but constructive formula for America’s resumption of responsible world leadership.”

—Brian Urquhart, former Under Secretary-General of the UN

“Finally, a thoughtful (and thought-provoking) book that tells us the positive strategic news about the rise of China, India and other emerging global powers, without glossing over the challenges.”

—Dan Burstein, venture capitalist and author of Secrets of 24: The Unauthorized Guide to the Political & Moral Issues Behind TV’s Most Riveting Drama

“At a time in world politics when China is promoting a ‘win-win’ strategy and the U.S. far too often sees the world in ‘us against them’ terms, The Next American Century is a wonderful corrective. Hachigian and Sutphen propose replacing containment and enlargement with ‘strategic collaboration,’ a grand strategy that would allow America to work with other great powers to meet the threats of the 21st century while still guarding its flank. Above all, they recognize that our most important national security tasks begin at home, with education, health care, infrastructure, and all the other elements to ensure that America remains the land of opportunity and innovation.”

—Anne-Marie Slaughter, Dean, Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs, Princeton University

“In this new century, foolhardy zero-sum thinking can generate needless risk and self-fulfilling prophesy. But where others see risk, Hachigian and Sutphen see opportunities—for innovation and for the transformation of America’s increasingly important relationships with a range of emerging states. It’s a persuasive book, a healthy dose of forward-looking optimism, and a great read.”

—Ian Bremmer, president of Eurasia Group and author of The J Curve: A New Way to Understand Why Nations Rise and Fall