Masters of illusion : American leadership in the media age
The United States will confront a series of fundamental challenges through the middle of the twenty-first century. Using a theory of economic systems to gauge present and future global conflicts, Steven Rosefielde and D. Quinn Mills see the challenges as posed sequentially by terrorism, Russia, China, and the European Union. In the cases of terrorism, Russia, and China, Western leaders appreciate aspects of these perils, but they are crafting unduly soft policies to deal with the challenges. The authors believe that 'globalists' notwithstanding, such views are myopic in an era where nuclear proliferation has invalidated the concept of mutually assured destruction. What America requires is a new security concept that the authors call 'strategic independence' to enable keeping the peace in dangerous times and foster new generations of leaders capable of acting sanely despite a current public culture addicted to wishful thinking
xxvii, 540 pages : illustrations ; 24 cm
9780521857444, 0521857449
64098445
A world wounded
Long-term economic realism
"Smooth comforts false"
the illusions that confuse us
Towers of illusion: dysfunctional behaviors
Mythomaniacs: the sources of our illusions
Champions of freedom or imperialists: how we're perceived
We're different now
The economic roots of American power
Economic disparities among nations
Geopolitical aspirations of the nations
A witch's brew of troubles: the next big wars
The Middle East
Strategic independence: an ounce of prevention
America as mature superpower
The dangers of overreach
The transatlantic trap
The middle course
How public culture inhibits presidential leadership
Choosing a great president
Master of illusions