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Does history make statesmen or do statesmen make history? This is the question Dr. Bruce Jentleson looks to answer in his book about 20th century leadership and politics. While there obviously can be no definitive answer to this question, Jentleson successfully demonstrates through thirteen examples of men and women of the last hundred years who have had a transformative impact on the lives of others and the destinies of their countries and the world.
By looking at each figures through a systematic analysis of who, what and why, Jentleson is able to create a balance sheet for the person and is able to demonstrate the difference that that particular figure was able to make based on the unique forms of capital he or she brought to the challenges and opportunities before them. As part of this, Jentleson suggests a special framework to analyze each figure called SARL, Statesman Above Replacement Leader (baseball fans are probably familiar with WARP, wins against replacement player). He uses this lens effectively in showing how a particular person was perhaps uniquely prepared for the moment and courageous enough to do what was necessary to advance the agenda of peace.
Perhaps the best example of this in the book is Nelson Mandela, who after serving more than decades in prison was uniquely positioned upon his release to end apartheid and keep South Africa united. Like many of the figures in the book, Mandela was instrumental in making initial progress on the problem, but since he was not omnipotent or perfect, many of the challenges he faced are still with us today. However, what Jentleson tries to show, and I think does so successfully, is how Mandela and others make the initial breakthrough or progress that allows future generations to work on the challenges more effectively.
The book is divided into five sections, Managing Power Rivalries, Building International Institutions, Reconciling the Politics of Identity, Advancing Freedom and Protection of Human Rights, and Fostering Global Sustainability. Each category contains two or more individuals that showed exemplary leadership in those fields. One of the strengths of the book is that following the introduction which lays out the framework for analysis, each section can be read independently of others. This makes it a nice book to have on the bookshelf in order to periodically go back and read up on a particular person. For me, based on my interests, one that I think I will reread at some point and recommend to others is Dag Hammerksjold. He was a very important figure but is not very well known among the general public. It made me very glad that Dr. Jentleson included him in this book.
In what must be a difficult thing for a historian to do, Jentleson writes effectively about figures that mostly are his contemporaries. While clearly expressing his stance on certain issues (which I applaud), Jentleson maintains a professional historian approach and presents both the strengths and shortcomings of the figures. He also attempts to explain their logic, including in those instances when their actions seem to go against his own ideas and values. Since he is writing about events that happened largely during his lifetime, Jentleson sometimes mentions his own personal experiences, such as watching on television as Mandela was released from prison. These were some of my favorite parts of the book because they were sincere descriptions of emotion as well as providing greater insight into how that particular figure affected so many people around the world.
I would highly recommend this book to anyone interested in history, leadership and/or politics. #UN4Peace
- Hardcover: 400 pages
- Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company; 1 edition (April 24, 2018)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 0393249565
- ISBN-13: 978-0393249569
- Product Dimensions: 9.6 x 6 x 1.4 inches
- Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
- Customer Reviews: 1 customer review
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Amazon Best Sellers Rank:
#925,715 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #1299 in International Relations (Books)
- #967 in International Diplomacy (Books)
- #567 in War & Peace (Books)
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