Realism and America's Rise: A Review Essay

Abstract

Sean Lynn-Jones, co-editor of International Security, reviews Fareed Zakaria’s recent book, From Wealth to Power: The Unusual Origin of America’s World Role. Lynn-Jones praises Zakaria’s book for its contribution to the debate between offensive and defensive realism and its persuasive argument that the United States sought a larger world role when its leaders saw U.S. power increase, but he finds Zakaria’s critique of defensive realism to be more stimulating than convincing.