Just Finished Reading: America in Retreat – The Decline of US Leadership from WW2 to Covid-19 by Michael Pembroke (FP: 2020) [257pp] 

This was a very different read from my previous “Retreat” book. For one thing it didn’t feel anything like as partisan as the previous read. Another was the fact that this was a far more historical narrative starting with America approaching the height of its power at the end of WW2. In 1945 the US was the world's largest economy (by far), had the world’s largest military and, most importantly, was the world’s only nuclear power (until Russia detonated her first nuke on 29 August 1949). America was, by and large, the uncontested world leader - and proceeded to act like it. Within a few scant years mostly as the behest of the US a new world order would emerge from the wreckage of a devastating world war. It encompassed the birth of the United Nations and what became known as the ‘rules-based order’, and it laid the foundations for the modern world we grew up in. But then, little by little, America began to retreat.  

Interestingly, the author lays the blame for the original ‘sin’ of retreat at the feet of President Harry Truman. He was in a real way an ‘accidental’ President and never really saw himself in that role. Indeed, he was, apparently, rather unsuited to be the ‘leader of the Free World’. An early example of this, again according to the author, was his authorisation of the use of atomic weapons on Japan. This the author argues was a political rather than a military decision primarily aimed at the Russians to tell them to back off from any further involvement in East Asia. I largely agree with that assessment but need to read up more about the decision-making process that led to the bombings. But I’m starting to get into the weeds of the book too much. The argument the author makes is an interesting and persuasive one: that the initial high moral stance of the US in 1945, backed up by its immense power, was subverted first by the Cold War (which the author saw as arguably unnecessary – MORE reading required!) and then by increasing US self-interest at the expense of global stability and growth. 

There are many examples, large and small, that come to mind: the decision to make the US dollar the world’s reserve currency thereby giving the US dominant economic power, the refusal to be bound by the International Criminal Court, the meddling in other countries politics – enemy, friendly, neutral – if they were doing anything contrary to US interests, the toppling of democratically elected governments perceived to be at least theoretically antagonistic to American interests despite a very public lauding of the democratic process – the imposition of the Shah of Iran is a particularly good example of this and is still causing issues in the region today. Not forgetting, of course, the support of vicious dictatorships in South America all in the name of resisting ‘communism’ in America’s backyard. 

Overall, this was an interesting read and I found myself nodding along more than once. About the only thing that raised the odd eyebrow was the favourable contrast he made – more than once – with China over the same period. Of course, there is more than a little truth in seeing China as a positive role model – especially in its immediate sphere of influence. It’s inarguable that China has lifted many millions of its own citizens out of poverty and has for decades (at least until recently) been seen as an economic miracle despite all predictions to the contrary. Likewise, the Belt & Road initiative has provided regions that otherwise could never have afforded such things with new ports, roads, airports and other infrastructure – things that could, long term, change whole regions of the planet for the better. Naturally this isn’t out of the simple goodness of China’s heart, but still the infrastructure exists or is being built and will benefit others as well as China. So, it's not too surprising that an increasing number of countries are looking to an Eastern future rather than a Western one. Bringing this up to date, for instance, there was a significant contrast in the response of China and the US to the Covid pandemic. Whilst America denied its existence and then fought amongst itself, China was sending equipment, technicians and other support to Italy, other European countries as well as Africa and elsewhere. Again, it’s hardly surprising that heads are turning East instead of West. This was a worthwhile read and gave me a number of areas and topics to investigate further. Recommended if you want food for thought.