To cap our list of notable guests, Robert Zoellick, one of America's most distinguished foreign policy practitioners, will discuss with Graham Allison his celebrated, meticulous new history, America in the World: A History of U.S. Diplomacy and Foreign Policy (Twelve Books) – an indispensable volume for understanding America's place in the world today.
All HKS affiliates are welcome to attend; register using the RSVP link above.
Co-sponsored by the Belfer Center's Future of Diplomacy Project.
Robert Zoellick is a Senior Fellow at the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government. Zoellick was President of the World Bank Group from 2007 to 2012, U.S. Trade Representative from 2001 to 2005, and Deputy Secretary of State from 2005 to 2006.
Twelve Books on America in the World: A History of U.S. Diplomacy and Foreign Policy:
"Recounting the actors and events of U.S. foreign policy, Zoellick identifies five traditions that have emerged from America’s encounters with the world: the importance of North America; the special roles trading, transnational, and technological relations play in defining ties with others; changing attitudes toward alliances and ways of ordering connections among states; the need for public support, especially through Congress; and the belief that American policy should serve a larger purpose. These traditions frame a closing review of post-Cold War presidencies, which Zoellick foresees serving as guideposts for the future.
Both a sweeping work of history and an insightful guide to U.S. diplomacy past and present, America in the World serves as an informative companion and practical adviser to readers seeking to understand the strategic and immediate challenges of U.S. foreign policy during an era of transformation."
Praise for America in the World: A History of U.S. Diplomacy and Foreign Policy:
"An outstanding history of US foreign policy by one of its leading practitioners. Zoellick grasps the essence of the debates over America's role in the world, and shows the constant interaction between global developments and the approaches of US policymakers. It is a diplomatic history for the 21st century, grounded in the practical lessons of centuries past."—O.A. Westad, Yale University
"This well-researched, well-written, and at times deeply passionate examination of America's role in the world is the product of decades of profound thought from one of the world's top decision-makers. Robert Zoellick's insider knowledge mixes with his sharp historical acuity to produce a convincing thesis that should guide modern America for decades to come."—Andrew Roberts, author of Churchill: Walking with Destiny
"Bob Zoellick has accomplished the near impossible – he has written a seminal work that is groundbreaking, historically insightful, and entertaining in a way that will appeal to scholars and general readers alike. America in the World provides a new framework for understanding the history of America's foreign policy, and is chock-full of fascinating vignettes that reveal our nation's pragmatism and innovative spirit."— Henry M. Paulson, Jr., former United States Secretary of the Treasury
