SEIZE THE MOMENT Richard Nixon

BOOK REVIEW

1.            Misc Info

a.         Title                            -           SEIZE THE MOMENT

b.         Author                       -           Richard Nixon

c.         Publisher                  -           Simon Schuster Publishers New York

d.         Total Pages             -           309

e.         Total Chapters        -           7

2.         Central Theme.       The book intends to address the US role in the world after historical collapse of Moscow’s satellite regimes in Eastern Europe in 1989. Since then world has changed dramatically. The US orchestrated the global coalition to liberate Kuwait in the Persian Gulf War 1990. The death of Soviet communism and the disintegration of Soviet Empire in 1991 revolutionized the global political landscape. Author emphasized that it is imperative the United States seize this moment to secure peace and advance freedom around the world.

3.         The first six chapters are about how the United States should exercise leadership in the Unipolar world. The seventh chapter is about that what Americans must do at home to have the means to lead through their actions but also to be worthy to lead through their example.

4.         Contents.      The book is divided into seven chapters giving a detailed study that what should US do after the fall of Russian empire and how should they do it  focusing  that US responsibility in the world affairs has increased and its role as a world leaders demands a lot now.

a.         Part1. This chapter deals that mission of US was not completed with the defeat of communism. This shows that wining a revolution is not easy but governing after wining is far more difficult. In this chapter Author has suggested that new American mission must be based not on the soft stand and unrealistic idealism but on the hard rock of enduring geopolitical realities as the states have Ideals and interests. Author further argued that beyond its security concerns, the United States has a profound interest in the survival of democratic states, expansion of economic prosperity through free trade and development and the promotion of democratic forms of government.

b.         Part 2.            In part 2, Author described the conditions and reasons of break up of Russian umpire. He argues that in the past conflicting values led US and Russia to look for the few areas of common interests, but now growing common values have created limitless possibilities for development of cooperative projects. In this chapter Author narrated events during the time of collapse of Russian Empire.

c.         Part 3.            In chapter3, Richard Nixon discussed the implications and effects of the Idea of “Common Transatlantic Home” given by Mikhail Gorbachev. He wrote that US should use this idea to its own interest and doors of this Common Transatlantic Home should be open to newly independent republics of Soviet Union.

d.         Part 4.            In part 4, the author has discussed the idea of shift of power to the pacific region in 21^st century. Japan’s potential, its relationship with different powers and economic capabilities are discussed. Also the role of China and its potentials are discussed. Author recommended that continued US role in the pacific is indispensable.  Without US the pacific triangle will be like a three-legged stool, unstable and potentially dangerous. The competition among Japan, China and Soviet Union be unbridled, with each driven to seek preeminence in the region.

e.         Part 5.            In this chapter, Author discussed the role of Muslim World and view of common people in the west about Islam in 21^st century. The author said that Muslim world is too large and too diverse to march to the beat of a single drummer. Only two common elements exist in Muslim world, the faith of Islam and problems of political turbulence. Author argued that time has come for the west to contribute to a renaissance of the Muslim world. If US engage modern states of Muslim world as full and equal partners, US can lay the foundation of such rebirth.

f.          Part 6.            In this chapter, Richard Nixon discussed the Southern Hemisphere that is  Africa, Latin America, East Asia, and South Asian region. The author argued that US should not turn its back towards this region and should help these countries to solve their problems.

g.         Part 7.            In this part, Author gave the main theme that what US should do to hold the place of world leader. He discussed that twenty-first century can be a century of peace. Because of the destruction power of nuclear weapons there will not be another world war.

5.         Comments.              The book suggests that United States must seize this moment after the fall of communism, to secure peace and to advance freedom around the world. The end of cold war has made the world more complicated. It resolved some conflicts but it gave rise to new and more difficult ones and a central US role became not superfluous but more important now than ever before.