The Geostrategic Triad

Global stability in the early twenty-first century will be conditioned largely by how the United States handles its relations with China, Europe, and Russia -- the "geostrategic triad"-according to Zbigniew Brzezinski. Thus, the United States needs a well-defined strategy to manage the two "Eurasian power triangles": the United States, Japan, and China, and the United States, Europe, and Russia. With this work, he offers a comprehensive geostrategic road map for such U.S. engagement.

Eminent scholar Zbigniew Brzezinski's New York Times bestselling blueprint for American foreign policy strategy in the twenty-first century The world today faces a crisis of power, caused by the dramatic shift in its center of gravity from the West to the East, by the dynamic political awakening of people worldwide, and by the deterioration of America's performance both domestically and internationally. As a result, America's position as a world superpower is far from secure. In Strategic Vision, former National Security Advisor Zbigniew Brzezinski argues that America can and should be actively engaged in navigating this period of crisis and provides a strategic blueprint for America to revitalize its global status and promote a peaceful twenty-first century. As Brzezinski eloquently shows, without an America that is economically vital, socially appealing, responsibly powerful, and capable of sustaining an intelligent foreign engagement, the geopolitical prospects for the West could become increasingly grave.

Writers, observers, and practitioners of international politics frequently invoke the term "geopolitics" to describe, explain, or analyze specific foreign policy issues and problems. Such generalized usage ignores the fact that geopolitics as a method of understanding international relations has a history that includes a common vocabulary, well-established if sometimes conflicting concepts, an extensive body of thought, and a recognized group of theorists and scholars. In Geopolitics, Francis P. Sempa presents a history of geopolitical thought and applies its classical analyses to Cold War and post-Cold War international relations. While mindful of the impact of such concepts as "globalization" and the "information revolution" on our understanding of contemporary events, Sempa emphasizes traditional geopolitical theories in explaining the outcome of the Cold War. He shows that, the struggle between the Western allies and the Soviet empire was unique in its ideological component and nuclear standoff, the Cold War fits into a recurring geopolitical pattern. It can be seen as a consequence of competition between land powers and sea powers, and between a potential Eurasian hegemonic power and a coalition of states opposed to that would-be hegemony. The collapse of the Soviet empire ended the most recent threat to global stability. Acting as a successor to the British Empire, the United States organized, funded, and led a grand coalition that successfully countered the Soviet quest for domination. No power or alliance posed an immediate threat to the global balance of power. Indeed, the end of the Cold War generated hopes for a "new world order" and predictions that economics would replace geopolitics as the driving force in international politics. Russian instability, the nuclear dimension of the India-Pakistan conflict, and Chinese bids for dominance have turned the Asia-Pacific region into what Mahan called "debatable and debated ground." Russi

The book suggests that the US-Russia post-9/11 partnership did not endure because much of America's policy is shaped by an ambition to remain the world's only superpower. The book analyzes the negative role played by Russophobia and advocates a different approach to Russia in the post-Cold War world.

"Zbigniew Brzezinski's multifaceted career dealing with U.S. security and foreign policy has led him from the halls of academia to multiple terms in public service, including a stint as President Carter's National Security Advisor from 1977 to 1981. He is a renowned policy analyst and author who frequently appears as a commentator on popular talk shows, including MSNBC's Morning Joe and PBS's NewsHour. Brzezinski's strategic vision continues to carry a great deal of gravitas. This analysis of Brzezinski's statecraft will be of interest not only to the general public but also to students as well as policy makers in the United States and throughout the world. To assess the ramifications of Brzezinski's engagement in world politics and policy making, Charles Gati has enlisted many of the top foreign policy players of the past thirty years to reflect on and analyze the man and his work. A senior scholar in Eastern European and Russian studies, Gati observed firsthand much of the history and politics surrounding Brzezinski's career. His vibrant introduction and concluding one-on-one interview with Brzezinski lucidly frame the book's critical assessment of this major statesman's accomplishments." -- Publisher's description.

These texts by Samir Amin have been selected for the purpose of encouraging readers to learn more about his work to trace the historical trajectory of capitalism, which has consistently produced polarization at the global level. Thus the dominated peripheries cannot hope to catch up with the social organization prevailing in the dominant centres and the impossibility of global capitalism becoming stabilized in its peripheries has resulted in the long decline of capitalism, coinciding with successive waves of active involvement by the peoples of the South to shape a new world, potentially embarking on the long journey to socialism. Amin presents this major conflict of the 20th century and identifies the new challenges that the system now faces in the 21st century. His analysis is conducted in terms of historical materialism and should be a useful tool for activists struggling for socialism. Their progress is linked to the emancipation of the Asian, African and Latin American peoples.

This book draws on twenty-four academic disciplines to provide a critical analysis of some 100 theories that explain the origins, nature, and management of human conflict. The book treats intellectual, individual, moral, interpersonal, organizational, community, political, and international conflicts. It suggests six criteria for distinguishing good from bad theory and discusses how existing theories may be used and improved.

This book examines Russia’s multidimensional foreign energy policy and the emerging and ongoing conflicts with energy-consuming and transit countries. Russia’s Foreign Energy Policy examines whether the interdependence patterns shaped through various channels (such as foreign trade, investment, finance, technology, and social interactions) between Russia and energy-importing countries could prevent energy-based conflict. Drawing on semi-structured expert interviews, Kenan Aslanli challenges the one-sided conventional wisdom that focusses on foreign policy ambitions and overlooks the peculiarities of the energy dimension. Instead, Aslanli highlights the complexity of contemporary energy affairs using a holistic approach that goes beyond geopolitics. He examines various energy types such as crude oil, natural gas, and nuclear and considers a diverse range of actors which include energy companies and international organizations. Using examples from Europe, Asia, and the Middle East, Aslanli demonstrates how the Russian strategy of using energy resources as a tool or energy weapon for foreign policy goals has a diminishing return in the long run. This book will be of great interest to students and scholars of energy policy, foreign policy, and Russian studies more broadly.

In a world characterized by persistent local and regional conflicts, policymakers and professionals in current affairs and security studies are increasingly challenged. From the ongoing war in Yemen to the complex civil war in Syria and the recent third Nagorno Karabakh Conflict, the global landscape is shaped by violent disruptions that demand a nuanced understanding. Geopolitical tensions, humanitarian crises, and the intricate interplay of international actors necessitate a comprehensive guide for those seeking to navigate this complex web of challenges. Analyzing Global Responses to Contemporary Regional Conflicts emerges as a beacon of insight and a tangible solution to this urgent problem. This edition is a crucial tool for academic scholars and professionals, providing readers with the knowledge necessary to comprehend the complexities of global conflicts. By drawing on geoeconomics, geopolitics, security studies, and humanitarian perspectives, the book explores the roots of competition and cooperation among states but also critically examines conflict prevention, peacebuilding, and the role of key international entities. It goes beyond mere analysis, offering a roadmap for a more peaceful and stable future.

Some of Bill Clinton's most basic foreign policy elements - democratic peace, the post-Cold War peace dividend, geopolitics and state-society relations - are epitomized in the US-Russian Highly Enriched Uranium (HEU) Purchase Agreement. It was one of the most remarkable initiatives of Clinton's presidency, but oddly one of the most obscure that still continues under George W. Bush. This agreement illustrates how successfully the US and Russia could work together to reduce global nuclear fears but also how a series of decisions pitted global designs over American domestic interests. Illustrating one of the most compelling decisions Clinton made as President, this remarkable book elucidates the theory of democratic peace and demonstrates a new and more advanced nuclear restraint regime, from reduction to elimination. The story behind Clinton's decision has repercussions for our understanding of arms control, foreign policy decision making and US-Russian relations. This is a book about the intersection of levels of analysis, international security concerns and domestic political economy, and as such is ideal as a supplementary text for advanced courses in security and foreign policy.