|
| |  |
This item may be eligible for  . Get FREE two day shipping.
See this item's eligibility during checkout.Literature & Fiction | Home » » » The Pentagon's New Map: War and Peace in the Twenty-first Century | | | | | | | Description: | | A groundbreaking reexamination of U.S. and global security, certain to be one of the most talked about books of the year.
Since the end of the Cold War, America's national security establishment has been searching for a new operating theory to explain how this seemingly "chaotic" world actually works. Gone is the clash of blocs, but replaced by what?
Thomas Barnett has the answers. A senior military analyst with the U.S. Naval War College, he has given a constant stream of briefings over the past few years, and particularly since 9/11, to the highest of high-level civilian and military policymakers-and now he gives it to you. The Pentagon's New Map is a cutting-edge approach to globalization that combines security, economic, political, and cultural factors to do no less than predict and explain the nature of war and peace in the twenty-first century.
Building on the works of Friedman, Huntington, and Fukuyama, and then taking a leap beyond, Barnett crystallizes recent American military history and strategy, sets the parameters for where our forces will likely be headed in the future, outlines the unique role that America can and will play in establishing international stability-and provides much-needed hope at a crucial yet uncertain time in world history.
For anyone seeking to understand the Iraqs, Afghanistans, and Liberias of the present and future, the intimate new links between foreign policy and national security, and the operational realities of the world as it exists today, The Pentagon's New Map is a template, a Rosetta stone. Agree with it, disagree with it, argue with it-there is no book more essential for 2004 and beyond. | | | Product Details: | | | Author:
| Thomas P.M. Barnett | | Paperback:
| 448 pages | | Publication Date:
| May 03, 2005 | | Package Length:
| 8.8 inches | | Package Width:
| 6.0 inches | | Package Height:
| 1.1 inches | | Package Weight:
| 0.5 pounds | | Average Customer Rating:
|  based on 119 reviews |
| | | | Used and New: | | | |
| All | |
| $6.24 This item is eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. | New | |
| New | |
| $6.24 This item is eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. | New | |
| | | | Customer Reviews: | |
Average Customer Review:
Write an online review and share your thoughts with other customers.
 Barnett loves BarnettJul 18, 2009
I had heard that Barnett held himself in high esteem--I just didn't realize it would go on for 448 pages. He spends the first 30 pages discussing how innovative and brilliant he is. I was disappointed to find out that this is what passes for intellectual argument these days. There is little here that wasn't in the international development literature from the late 1970's and early 1980's. It just seemed new because the previous works were forgotten. He lost his remaining brownie points when he mentioned natural gas (CH4) as a carbon free energy source. I didn't even take organic chemistry and knew that was wrong. Solar, wind, nuclear--carbon free. Still curious, read his Esquire article instead. At least that editor was able to keep his ego in check. Check it out from the library instead of wasting the money.
 BrilliantMay 30, 2009
This is a brilliant theoretical model of shifting US grand strategy, driven not by traditional concepts of Westphalian geopolitics, but rather the new realities created by non-state actors and the growing disparity between those regions connected to globalization and those who are not. This is a giant blast of reality in an areana dominated by timidity and reluctance to redefine the status quo. Barnett does a masterful job of both.
Criticism. Much of the book is about his personal experience as an analyst in the Defense Department. Frankly, I could have done without most of that.
Bottom line - if you are even remotely interested in the security environment of today and the near future, this should be the first book on your list.
Me. I'm an operations officer working in the Pentagon. I have a Master's Degree in Asian Studies (focused on security studies) and am currently about halfway through my second graduate degree. I've also been a member of a security think tank.
 Great Strategy Mediocre WritingApr 23, 2009
In terms of developing global strategies and planning the book is quite interesting in its ability to advance logically a number of varying hypotheses about what's happened and could happen in the world. Its focus on globalization as an instrument of change and the continued revision of the unspoken rules which govern international behavior are both unique in their clarity and in their focus on advancing America's own interests. Much of these policies were espoused by the Bush administration although a careful reader will notice that they were often carried out poorly or ultimately ignored all together, thus leading the reader to wonder how things would have changed had these theories been more closely adhered to. Regardless if you're interested in stepping into the world of international strategy and development then this is a key book for you, if only to learn and understand the policies which drove the post cold war era and the early 2000s.
That having been said there are some serious drawback to the book, most notably being the authors ego which often seeps through on each page continually deterring the reader. The author at one point early on in the book goes so far as to compare himself to the fictional hero Jack Ryan of The Hunt for Red October fame. In this way the book eventually becomes silly and laughable at points, and the experience is comparable to dealing with an old friend who is an expert in something but can't quite let that qualification as an expert go. The other detractor is the often dry writing style the author employees when discussing anything aside from his own experiences. The style is comparable to an academic text which isn't surprising given the authors career but could be difficult for a casual reader and often requires people to redouble their efforts in reading the book periodically.
In the end it's a good book for people hoping to learn more about global policy and change, in addition to providing a great deal of insight into the life and career of an intelligence analyst. Just don't get thrown off by the style.
incredible bookApr 01, 2009
I wish every American would read this book. If you want to understand what is happening in the world, this is the book for you.
Well Written but Shaky TheoryDec 06, 2008
I believe this is an important book to read whether you agree with Barnett's theory or find it full of flaws. I am far from being an expert on the subject matter - in fact a friend gave this book to me and I felt obligated to read it - however, I found that the book was not the chore to read as I had first expected. It was well written and Barnett's conversational style is easy to digest. In light of recent events (this book was published in 2005) though, personally I believe some of Barnett's theories need to be revisited and tweaked accordingly. I think it's been obvious that the U.S. could not/can not continue on the path that has led us to our current state of a crippling economic crisis, a soaring national debt, a military stretched too thin... and so I think some of the authors major points are simply not as feasible as they might have earlier been. The U.S. just isn't the model for globalization in the current state of affairs. I'm sure my interpretations could use a further dose of enlightenment, however; the more I know, the less I know.
| | |
Huge Savings!
|  | | Look out for the Open Box Items and Grab'em before they're gone! |
|
