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The Opportunity (Hardcover)

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Key Phrases: other major powers, nuclear weapons states, United States, North Korea, Security Council (more...)
3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)

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Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

As the president of the Council on Foreign Relations, one of the country's most influential nongovernmental organizations and the publisher of the essential policy journal Foreign Affairs, Haass has an unique seat from which to weigh the direction of the U.S.'s relations with the rest of the world. In this book, he covers a lot of familiar territory: the collapse of the bipolar world, the advent of terrorism, the unprecedented possibilities for global political cooperation (that follow on the economic), the lessons to be drawn from the way the war in Iraq has been conducted. Haass ends up arguing not just that the U.S. has terrific opportunities to integrate itself politically with the rest of the world, but that it must do so-in order to preserve its economic integrity if nothing else. The final chapter, titled "The Necessity," argues that if that integration does not happen, "The principal challenges of this era...will come to overwhelm the United States." Coming as they do from a carefully calibrated source, those are sobering words.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.


Review

"An excellent book on foreign policy." -- Newsday

"Haass has presented an agenda for US foreign policy that is realistic, constructive, and conservative in the old sense." -- New York Review of Books, August 11, 2005

"Haass may be laying the groundwork for a counterrevolution...will undoubtedly become one of the debate's more significant volumes." -- New York Times Book Review, May 29, 2005

"Mr. Haass has made a significant contribution to the debate concerning United States foreign policy." -- The Washington Times 8/14/05

"The Iraq section is clear and well-argued.... Haass is defining himself as a Republican realist in the tradition of Kissinger." -- Washington Post Book World, July 17, 2005

HHHaass' easily understood book is an excellent place to begin... to understand the basic issues in American foreign policy. -- St. Louis Dispatch, July 24, 2005
See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

  • Hardcover: 256 pages
  • Publisher: PublicAffairs (May 31, 2005)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 1586482769
  • ISBN-13: 978-1586482763
  • Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5.5 x 1 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces
  • Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.com Sales Rank: #797,303 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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More About the Author

Richard Haass
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Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
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Inside This Book (learn more)
Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
other major powers, nuclear weapons states
Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
United States, North Korea, Security Council, Cold War, Soviet Union, The Other Major Powers, Saudi Arabia, United Nations, Taking On Terrorism, South Korea, World War, Middle East, Economic Integration, Little Less Sovereignty, The Necessity, South Africa, President Bush, Saddam Hussein, United Kingdom, World Trade Organization, Great Britain, Tony Blair, Secretary-General Kofi Annan, Vladimir Putin, European Union
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Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
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Customer Reviews

15 Reviews
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29 of 33 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars A Case For Realpolitik, July 19, 2005
By Izaak VanGaalen (San Francisco, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   
Richard Haass, formerly head of the State Department's policy planning staff (2001-2003), represented the minority opinion within an administration dominated by neoconservative hawks. He subscribes to the more moderate and traditional Republican view of international relations known as the "realist" school. As such he falls in line with such notables as Brent Scowcroft and Henry Kissinger.

The realist school, indeed, derives most of its principles from Henry Kissinger who was one of the greatest practitioners of realplitik in the last century. The foundational models of the realist school were the Congress of Vienna in 1815 and the Congress of Berlin in 1878 in which the great powers carved up Europe into spheres of influence, known as the "concert of Europe."

Now we have another such opportunity, says Haass. He believes multilateralism among the great powers of today would strengthen, not compromise the United States. The great powers he has in mind are China, Russia, Europe, Japan, and India, and in a lesser role the emerging powers of Brazil, South Korea, and South Africa. Haass sees the world as a place where great powers in cooperation set the rules and impose them collectively on the rest.

In Haass' view, the advocacy of democracy would play a less prominent role in foreign policy, instead, order, stablity, and cooperation would be paramount. China and Russia would have more latitude for cracking down on dissent within in exchange for membership in the exclusive club. At the same time, the US would not undertake expensive wars to impose regime change and democracy. Supporting it as we did in Lebanon and Ukraine is about as far as Haass thinks we should be going.

Imposing democracy at gunpoint and doing it unilaterally are not viable foreign policy goals. Although it is true that we do not need a permission slip from the UN to defend ourselves, as was the case for the invasion of Afghanistan. The case for invading Iraq has turned out to be a war of choice, one that Haass is warning against. Even though the US has a bigger defense budget than all the great powers combined, it still has not been able to turn that power into influence. Influence comes only through multilateralism and cooperation.

There is really no alternative to multilateralism, as the Bush Administration is finding out in its second term. After having lost influence from the invasion and occupation of Iraq, they are now working with Europe to halt nuclear weapons in Iran and with the Six Parties to do the same in North Korea. In a globalizing world of cross-border flows of people, goods, money, ideas, viruses, weapons, etc., global integration is taking place no matter how desparately nations try to hold on to sovereignty. A "concert of international society" may be pie-in-the-sky, as one Amazon reviewer put it, but it is important to have clear guideposts because the pie-on-earth is already in the making. This is a very thoughtful book that I would recommend to the general reader as well as to the policy wonk.
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14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent analysis of current US foreign policy opportunities, September 11, 2005
By Paul Allaer (Cincinnati) - See all my reviews
(TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)      
Richard Haas has served under Ronald Reagan, Bush 41 and Bush 43 (as an advisor to Colin Powell), and is now with a leading think-tank in Washington. Over the years he has written some great books, reflecting on US foreign policy, and this book is the latest, released earlier this year without much fanfare (or, alas, commercial success).

The basic premise of "The Opportunity" (242 pages) is that the US in conjunction with other major powers such as China, Russia and the EU have a window of opportunity to steer the world in a direction of global cooperation and wealth, the key words here beinf "in conjunction". Haass makes a number of excellent observations in his book, such as:

on globalization: "The choice before the US is between multilateralism and either a gradual return to a world of great power competition or a world overwhelmed by disruptive forces, or both".

on terrorism: "It would be a mistake to conclude that there is global consensus on this matter. ... [O]ne man's terrotist is another's freedom fighter".

on North Korea: Haass urges the US and others to set realistic goals to the North Korean government, with real consequences if those goals are not met.

on the China/Taiwan conflict: "If the mainland were to use military force [for reunification], it should not be allowed to successfully reunify the country. Allowing it would set a terrible precedent for the region and beyond".

on the US Security Council: Haass points out that it is ineffective because its composition reflects the world order half a century ago, not today's.

on Iraq: Haass feels the invasion was "legal" but lacks "legitimacy", and moreover when a cost/benefit is made (considering how much the war has cost so far in expenses and lives lost, "the war against Iraq was unwarranted".

This is a terrific book all around. Haass makes the excellent point in the concluding chapter that "for all its power, there is virtually nothing the US can do better without others. The US needs partners; unilateralism is rarely a viable option". Well said, and this book is highly recommended!
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23 of 32 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Essential Reading To Understand America's Global Role, June 5, 2005
By P. Valka (London, UK) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
Richard Haass, the President of the Council of Foreign Relations, argues that with the immense resources and unparalleled power of the United States there is a unique oppurtunity to shape the international system and manage the process of globalization that is favorable to American interests. To do so, American policymakers must be serious about maintaining America's global role by pursuing a judicious and realistic foreign policy that seeks to strengthen American global leadership to better manage the process of globalization. Haass argues that the effects of globalization are and will to continue to be so extensive that careful management of globalization is an imperative task that only American leadership can accomplish.

Haass comes from a different school of thought that much of the Bush administration. Though serving as Director of Policy Planning during the first two years of George W. Bush's State Department, Haass espouses a worldview very different from the Manichaen ideological perspective of much of the Bush administration's influential neoconservatives. Haass comes from the old Republican tradition that emphasizes realism and international cooperation which is a refreshing perspective in this turbulent time.

The Oppurtunity is one of the best books I have read in a long time. One can't but help to agree with Haass's compelling arguments and interesting insights. It is essential reading to understand America's global position.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars A Call to a Higher Standard
Author Richard N. Haass uses this book to expose the pivotal moment in history in which America now exists. Read more
Published on March 9, 2007 by Shane

2.0 out of 5 stars Opportunity: Short-Term Gains, Long-Term Losses
Richard Haass defines the opportunity to alter history's course as building and maintaining good relations with the other major powers, i.e. Read more
Published on December 11, 2006 by Serge J. Van Steenkiste

3.0 out of 5 stars Thinking About Things & the Future.
After 9-ll-01, this Harvard-educated, experienced civil servant worked as director of policy planning to develop the National Security Strategy published in September 2002. Read more
Published on December 29, 2005 by Betty Burks

2.0 out of 5 stars The Lament Of The Neo-Realists
Richard Haass attempts to distinguish himself from the neocons. Aside from form, however, the substance really isn't any different. Read more
Published on November 15, 2005 by Roy Tyrell

3.0 out of 5 stars Sort of okay
The collapse of the Soviet Union meant that the old system of competing mutual alliances was finished. Read more
Published on September 3, 2005 by Tom Munro

3.0 out of 5 stars Weak content wrapped up in pretty packaging
If one were to read the Opportunity without much thought about what the author is actually saying, it would be very easy to find yourself being very uncritical and also agreeing... Read more
Published on August 21, 2005 by Lee L.

5.0 out of 5 stars Unfortunately Americans did not think behind the facts of 09/11
I live in America now and I am always astounded to keep finding how little if anything Americans know about anything outside the 50 states. Read more
Published on August 4, 2005 by M. Raychev

4.0 out of 5 stars Refreshingly Optimistic
I really enjoyed this book. Looking at Haass's credentials, you can see he knows what he's talking about. Read more
Published on July 21, 2005 by Micky B. Hingorani

4.0 out of 5 stars Great primer for understanding policy
Richard N. Haass is President of the Council on Foreign Relations, an independent foreign policy organization. Read more
Published on July 14, 2005 by J. Atlas

2.0 out of 5 stars Wrong prescription
Despite the pedigree and the weel thought out ideas of this book, most of solutions are either pie-in-the-sky or they are simply wrong. Read more
Published on July 2, 2005 by Seth J. Frantzman

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