---
product_id: 17615341
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---

# World Order

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“Dazzling and instructive . . . [a] magisterial new book.” —Walter Isaacson, Time "An astute analysis that illuminates many of today's critical international issues." — Kirkus Reviews Henry Kissinger offers in World Order a deep meditation on the roots of international harmony and global disorder. Drawing on his experience as one of the foremost statesmen of the modern era—advising presidents, traveling the world, observing and shaping the central foreign policy events of recent decades—Kissinger now reveals his analysis of the ultimate challenge for the twenty-first century: how to build a shared international order in a world of divergent historical perspectives, violent conflict, proliferating technology, and ideological extremism. There has never been a true “world order,” Kissinger observes. For most of history, civilizations defined their own concepts of order. Each considered itself the center of the world and envisioned its distinct principles as universally relevant. China conceived of a global cultural hierarchy with the emperor at its pinnacle. In Europe, Rome imagined itself surrounded by barbarians; when Rome fragmented, European peoples refined a concept of an equilibrium of sovereign states and sought to export it across the world. Islam, in its early centuries, considered itself the world’s sole legitimate political unit, destined to expand indefinitely until the world was brought into harmony by religious principles. The United States was born of a conviction about the universal applicability of democracy—a conviction that has guided its policies ever since. Now international affairs take place on a global basis, and these historical concepts of world order are meeting. Every region participates in questions of high policy in every other, often instantaneously. Yet there is no consensus among the major actors about the rules and limits guiding this process or its ultimate destination. The result is mounting tension. Grounded in Kissinger’s deep study of history and his experience as national security advisor and secretary of state, World Order guides readers through crucial episodes in recent world history. Kissinger offers a unique glimpse into the inner deliberations of the Nixon administration’s negotiations with Hanoi over the end of the Vietnam War, as well as Ronald Reagan’s tense debates with Soviet Premier Gorbachev in Reykjavík. He offers compelling insights into the future of U.S.–China relations and the evolution of the European Union, and he examines lessons of the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. Taking readers from his analysis of nuclear negotiations with Iran through the West’s response to the Arab Spring and tensions with Russia over Ukraine, World Order anchors Kissinger’s historical analysis in the decisive events of our time. Provocative and articulate, blending historical insight with geopolitical prognostication, World Order is a unique work that could come only from a lifelong policy maker and diplomat. Kissinger is also the author of On China .

Review: Fantastic introduction to poles of our multipolar world and their unique cultural histories - World Order is an impressive work that focuses on the geopolitical distribution of power. This is an enourmous topic and the author approaches methodically and continuously highlights insights with anecdotal personal experience. There are several key regional focuses that have both historical and modern day importance. The author focuses on Europe, the Middle East, Asia and the US. The chapters contain regional history and a perspective on cultural differences that create fracturing in understanding and negotiation. The author is always optimistic but makes sure to keep optimism in check with the realism learned through his experience in foreign policy. The author starts by discussing the distribution of power in Europe and how the Peace of Westphalia gave the model for stability. The author details the way in which after the devastation of the 30 years war, the peace that formed afterwards based on a focus of national sovereignty and balance of power led to a stable relationship among nation-states until the Napoleonic Wars. The discussion of Russian history is well weaved into the European narrative and its role in balancing or creating instability within the European sphere is discussed. The author discusses the rise of Germany and its ability to push Europe out of balance with its unification and the author discusses the first and second world wars and how the balance of power between France, Germany, Russia and the UK shaped events. The author moves on to Islam and Middle East. The author gives some background history to the spread Islam and the nature of the religion with respect to ideas like national sovereignty and balance of power. The author contends that they dont fit into the religion easily as Sharia law is given as the ultimate scale of justice. The author discusses the Ottoman Empire and how its alliances were often based on strategic advantage not perception of universal truth as evidence that the Westphalian concept of geopolitical stability included Islamic powers. The author discusses the relevence of current events like the Arab Spring and the emotions about Israel. The author also gives an overview of the richest Sunni nation- Saudi Arabia. The author then moves on to the ideological counterweight to the Westphalian system- Iran. The Iranianan religious rhetoric leaves no room for US values and sees no cooperative endgame. The narrative from the Ayatolla's is clearly demonizing. The author is hopeful that this is posturing and part of a strategy to keep a mandate rather than the unbending beliefs of the leaders and a representation of the populations views but the author warns of assuming that American values are naturally felt by all if just given the chance to be absorbed. The author discusses Asia and its different concepts of balance of power. The Chinese Empire throughout history saw itself as the center of the universe and their perspective on geopolitical order was that all states are culturally inferior and should be delivering tribute to the emperor (up until the opium wars). This perspective is fundamentally different from other regions in which warring parties constantly jostled for advantage. The repurcussion of this history is that China perhaps sees itself less bound by the international order constructed through the First and Second World Wars that it had no rule in constructing. China is looking to be the regional power but there are other nations who feel very differently, namely Japan and India. The US remains an important player balancing different interests in Asia with its naval presence. This will be a source of tension in the future as regional interests grow and relative power distribution moves towards China away from the US. The author spends time on the cultures of India, China and to a certain extent Japan. He discusses how their views of history and ethics can be fundamentally different to the enlightenment philosophy guided rhetoric that the US often argues is universal. The author finally moves on to the US. He discusses its often uniqueness in its perspective of foreign policy as an extension of its political philosophy rather than its national interest. The author discusses how the US is the only country to often believe it is acting for the betterment of society as well as for the propogation of liberty. This idealism often leads to overstretching and underappreciation of the requirement of the institutional architecture that allows for sustaining Americal values. The author does a quick history of US national policy from the Spanish American War up until the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. His discusses the two mindedness of the public in that they yearn for supporting the freedom and of democracy of others. But they tire of the difficulty of achieving it. The author spends a lot of time on the great stateseman in the US that he believes helped guide the nation to being a world power. World Order is well written and insightful. It is realistic in its analysis of the difference in perceptions of the role of foreign policy and balancing of world power. The author discusses the challenges we face in a nuclear age with rising probabilities of cyber warfare. The penetration of the internet has changed the nature of information/knowledge/wisdom and the author is concerned we have too much information at our fingertips at the expence of knowledge or wisdom and the perspective to appreciate the relevance of data. The concluding remarks are interesting but perhaps a little bit overly concerned. There are plenty of interested thinkers in the world today trying to be statesman (though not being able to think of many perhaps i should get on the same page as the author). World Order is a must read, as is On China for those who are considering that as well.
Review: A Manifesto for The Westphalian Balance of Power - SUMMARY OF THE THESIS: The peace of Westphalia was an imperfect but still uniquely effective development in international relations, depending on recognition of the legitimacy and sovereignty of states while keeping a flexible structure committed to protecting the balance of power. Sectarian absolutists, among others, pose an alternative world order that depends on the triumph of their sectarian or political visions; this threatens the interests of all those dedicated to the Westphalian system. The book is also an anthropology of statecraft, examining the histories of many nations and regions. It's a handbook in this regard, and while specialists in cultures will have grist for the argument mill, it's a good text from which to begin those arguments. In the end, the book is less about what U.S. foreign policy should look like. For Kissinger, that's an art and a creative enterprise. Rather, it's about the way Kissinger thinks an intelligent mind should think about foreign policy. Because Kissinger is such a polarizing figure, I'll say here that he does deal also with the question of humanitarian motivations in interferences in sovereign states. These bits are worth reading to better understand his conception of the relationship between realpolitik and morality: I could have wished they were more fully worked out, but where Kissinger touches on it, it's thought-provoking stuff. Kissinger's knowledge of history and statecraft is so extensive, commanding, and even sensitive that you can't easily evade it. His understanding of the motivations of, for instance, Iran's leadership or Egypt's Arab Spring would sit well on a postmodern multiculturalist; but he indicates from history the ways in which the postmodernist multiculturalist should have serious reservations about that. Kissinger does not make Islam a target, however, but fits the religion into a remarkably coherent picture of the world and its troubles. The book is a wakeup call to an under-educated Western public (and leadership) that too often misunderstands the aims of diplomacy (including military action), and so wins the battles but loses the wars. Highly recommended for anybody who values world order, peace, and justice. My biggest critiques are that he under-develops many trends in modern foreign policy, such as the Obama Administration's goal of rebalancing toward Asia and minimizing U.S. roles in the Middle East. (Obviously that has huge implications for Israel, among many others.) There are many such lacunae. But it's a book full of concepts that one should have at one's mental fingertips in any discussion of U.S intervention, or of what world order ought to look like.

## Technical Specifications

| Specification | Value |
|---------------|-------|
| Best Sellers Rank | #53,607 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books ) #49 in National & International Security (Books) #61 in Asian & Asian American Biographies #188 in History & Theory of Politics |
| Customer Reviews | 4.5 out of 5 stars 3,304 Reviews |

## Images

![World Order - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71aEqIlLIwL.jpg)

## Customer Reviews

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Fantastic introduction to poles of our multipolar world and their unique cultural histories
*by A***N on November 7, 2014*

World Order is an impressive work that focuses on the geopolitical distribution of power. This is an enourmous topic and the author approaches methodically and continuously highlights insights with anecdotal personal experience. There are several key regional focuses that have both historical and modern day importance. The author focuses on Europe, the Middle East, Asia and the US. The chapters contain regional history and a perspective on cultural differences that create fracturing in understanding and negotiation. The author is always optimistic but makes sure to keep optimism in check with the realism learned through his experience in foreign policy. The author starts by discussing the distribution of power in Europe and how the Peace of Westphalia gave the model for stability. The author details the way in which after the devastation of the 30 years war, the peace that formed afterwards based on a focus of national sovereignty and balance of power led to a stable relationship among nation-states until the Napoleonic Wars. The discussion of Russian history is well weaved into the European narrative and its role in balancing or creating instability within the European sphere is discussed. The author discusses the rise of Germany and its ability to push Europe out of balance with its unification and the author discusses the first and second world wars and how the balance of power between France, Germany, Russia and the UK shaped events. The author moves on to Islam and Middle East. The author gives some background history to the spread Islam and the nature of the religion with respect to ideas like national sovereignty and balance of power. The author contends that they dont fit into the religion easily as Sharia law is given as the ultimate scale of justice. The author discusses the Ottoman Empire and how its alliances were often based on strategic advantage not perception of universal truth as evidence that the Westphalian concept of geopolitical stability included Islamic powers. The author discusses the relevence of current events like the Arab Spring and the emotions about Israel. The author also gives an overview of the richest Sunni nation- Saudi Arabia. The author then moves on to the ideological counterweight to the Westphalian system- Iran. The Iranianan religious rhetoric leaves no room for US values and sees no cooperative endgame. The narrative from the Ayatolla's is clearly demonizing. The author is hopeful that this is posturing and part of a strategy to keep a mandate rather than the unbending beliefs of the leaders and a representation of the populations views but the author warns of assuming that American values are naturally felt by all if just given the chance to be absorbed. The author discusses Asia and its different concepts of balance of power. The Chinese Empire throughout history saw itself as the center of the universe and their perspective on geopolitical order was that all states are culturally inferior and should be delivering tribute to the emperor (up until the opium wars). This perspective is fundamentally different from other regions in which warring parties constantly jostled for advantage. The repurcussion of this history is that China perhaps sees itself less bound by the international order constructed through the First and Second World Wars that it had no rule in constructing. China is looking to be the regional power but there are other nations who feel very differently, namely Japan and India. The US remains an important player balancing different interests in Asia with its naval presence. This will be a source of tension in the future as regional interests grow and relative power distribution moves towards China away from the US. The author spends time on the cultures of India, China and to a certain extent Japan. He discusses how their views of history and ethics can be fundamentally different to the enlightenment philosophy guided rhetoric that the US often argues is universal. The author finally moves on to the US. He discusses its often uniqueness in its perspective of foreign policy as an extension of its political philosophy rather than its national interest. The author discusses how the US is the only country to often believe it is acting for the betterment of society as well as for the propogation of liberty. This idealism often leads to overstretching and underappreciation of the requirement of the institutional architecture that allows for sustaining Americal values. The author does a quick history of US national policy from the Spanish American War up until the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. His discusses the two mindedness of the public in that they yearn for supporting the freedom and of democracy of others. But they tire of the difficulty of achieving it. The author spends a lot of time on the great stateseman in the US that he believes helped guide the nation to being a world power. World Order is well written and insightful. It is realistic in its analysis of the difference in perceptions of the role of foreign policy and balancing of world power. The author discusses the challenges we face in a nuclear age with rising probabilities of cyber warfare. The penetration of the internet has changed the nature of information/knowledge/wisdom and the author is concerned we have too much information at our fingertips at the expence of knowledge or wisdom and the perspective to appreciate the relevance of data. The concluding remarks are interesting but perhaps a little bit overly concerned. There are plenty of interested thinkers in the world today trying to be statesman (though not being able to think of many perhaps i should get on the same page as the author). World Order is a must read, as is On China for those who are considering that as well.

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐ A Manifesto for The Westphalian Balance of Power
*by O***R on February 7, 2015*

SUMMARY OF THE THESIS: The peace of Westphalia was an imperfect but still uniquely effective development in international relations, depending on recognition of the legitimacy and sovereignty of states while keeping a flexible structure committed to protecting the balance of power. Sectarian absolutists, among others, pose an alternative world order that depends on the triumph of their sectarian or political visions; this threatens the interests of all those dedicated to the Westphalian system. The book is also an anthropology of statecraft, examining the histories of many nations and regions. It's a handbook in this regard, and while specialists in cultures will have grist for the argument mill, it's a good text from which to begin those arguments. In the end, the book is less about what U.S. foreign policy should look like. For Kissinger, that's an art and a creative enterprise. Rather, it's about the way Kissinger thinks an intelligent mind should think about foreign policy. Because Kissinger is such a polarizing figure, I'll say here that he does deal also with the question of humanitarian motivations in interferences in sovereign states. These bits are worth reading to better understand his conception of the relationship between realpolitik and morality: I could have wished they were more fully worked out, but where Kissinger touches on it, it's thought-provoking stuff. Kissinger's knowledge of history and statecraft is so extensive, commanding, and even sensitive that you can't easily evade it. His understanding of the motivations of, for instance, Iran's leadership or Egypt's Arab Spring would sit well on a postmodern multiculturalist; but he indicates from history the ways in which the postmodernist multiculturalist should have serious reservations about that. Kissinger does not make Islam a target, however, but fits the religion into a remarkably coherent picture of the world and its troubles. The book is a wakeup call to an under-educated Western public (and leadership) that too often misunderstands the aims of diplomacy (including military action), and so wins the battles but loses the wars. Highly recommended for anybody who values world order, peace, and justice. My biggest critiques are that he under-develops many trends in modern foreign policy, such as the Obama Administration's goal of rebalancing toward Asia and minimizing U.S. roles in the Middle East. (Obviously that has huge implications for Israel, among many others.) There are many such lacunae. But it's a book full of concepts that one should have at one's mental fingertips in any discussion of U.S intervention, or of what world order ought to look like.

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Great insight into the inner-workings and need-to-know basics of the concept of "World Order".
*by A***E on February 25, 2015*

Review on "World Order: Reflections on the Character of Nations and the Course of History" published by Henry Kissinger on September 9th 2014. This book offers great insight into the inner-workings and need-to-know basics of the concept of "World Order", human politics, history and our future. I wont go into extreme detail as there is simply too much information in the book itself to comment on in an review, but I will try to elaborate on a few issues I was left with, but make no mistake, this is a brilliant book written by a man with vast experience and intellect on the workings of global politics. Henry Kissinger's "World Order" is a great book for everyone interested in world history, politics and the concept about "World Order" based on the relation between power and legitimacy. Throughout history every great empire has sought to impose it's culture and values upon the world known to them, and rigidly trying to balance it's powers and legitimacy at the same time. Kissinger describes every great European, Middle-East, North-American and Asian empires who have since their conception strived towards fulfilling the inevitable conquest for an impending "World Order" where human beings are brought under an umbrella of global culture, values, economics and civil-rights. The book also focuses a lot on the relations between the Unites States of America and it's "nemesises"; Iran, Soviet Union (Russia), and China - and also goes into detail about the wars in Iraq, Afghanistan, Korea and Vietnam. The concept of "World Order" is so complex and often perscribed to an already established set of principles: The United States' democracy and capitalism, The Europeans "Westphalian System", the Islamic world's order based on religious legitimacy, China's history of isolationism, and mixture of communism and "confucian culture emphasizing harmony" and Soviet (Russias) "deconstruced" concept of international order through communism. The book does not deviate from these political ideologies, it merely relies on them to be the guiding principles of a future "World Order" where there is political hegemony, peace, harmony and prosperity for all. Whilst there must be some great nation(s) that "imposes" it's values upon other nations and that strives to balance the geo-political scene with values deemed to be important and invaluable to the human species, there will always be competing values, cultures and distinctly indifferent views on how to integrate these into our daily lives. There is also a great detail on each of the post-WWII presidents thoughts on the concept of "World Order" and what it contains, what it restrains and obtains, how it could and should be implemented and how it should be dealt with on the political scene. The reader should and would benefit from remembering that all these political insights and thoughts are products of the times they were constructed in; The Cold War, China's "Cultural Revolution" and "Great Leap Forward", USSR's fall, Middle-East conflicts and Central and East-Asian conflicts. There is also a chapter solely on the issue of Iran's Nuclear development and how the P5+1 countries tries to balance and dictate it's development and to "manipulate" it into being something Iran "cannot" use to dictate the balance of power in the Middle-East with Israel not surprisingly opposing it's every move and intention. Islamic history (and on topics of ISIS, the Caliphates, Saudi-Arabia, Persia) is also carefully described and analyzed, but not entirely criticized for it's clash with the "Western" ideologies and principles. In my opinion, "World Order" can never be based on religious principles or legitimacy as shown with the fall of the "Holy Roman Empire" in Europe, because it is such a egocentric and glorified concept that we are the creation of a "divine master" of the Universe that will "eventually save us all", because it will -- in time, in my opinion -- fall on it's own axis as it is not compatible with the political and social challenges we as a species face in the near and far future. The book is written by a man who has a lifetime of American and geo-political experience. It comes to my mind that he has without a doubt an invaluable set of insight into politics and the history of political development from the aftermath of World War II and up until this very day, but -- and there is in my opinion a great but -- he does not deal with nor elaborate on great issues of "World Order" such as the worlds economic model of free-market and capitalism and the ever increasing corruption from corporations to politics, the sad military industry complex of the worlds great powers and lesser nations worth billions of $, the increasing gap between the rich and the poor, the "pay for your interests" lobbyism of American and global politics, global famine and starvation, climate and global pollution, medicine and healthcare and the great risk of balancing "World Order" on a set of political and social principles incrompehensible to the majority of this planets population, which can eventually lead to an all-out war are we not willing to sacrifice and change our ways for the greater good on the path to our common future. This book is great food for thought, it puts forth guidance and analyzes the problems facing a "World Order" and is a must read for anyone slightly interested in geo-politics. For students of Political Science and Philosophy it will serve as a great detailing of the geo-political scene and workings of the great nations of power. For the younger generation it should serve as a factual perception of politics, but we should also learn and make sure that we in the future change and improve upon what is already established, as has forever been done and which has since changed the world immensely in tandem with technological and social development on a global scale. I dont have all the answers, and in my opinion, nor does Henry Kissinger, but the complexity of "World Order" requires a "World in Order" - one nation cannot do it alone, nor can it be solely one set of values and principles that forms it. Kissinger talks of not the improvement but the "reconstruction" of "World Order" based on todays political climate. And this reconstruction, is what human beings should work together for and dare not be afraid to embark on - as it is our sole purpose and destiny to make sure we build a viable future for the coming generations and strive for peace, prosperity and civil-rights on all fronts. I have not talked about every chapter in this book as this review would be too long for people to even bother reading, but I have tried to single out -- to me -- the most important topics and ideas in the book. Read the book for the entirety of the information it describes, it is a lot. I declare and acknowledge that I am a visionary, a dreamer of peace and disarmament of nations and especially nuclear weapons, I put my faith in science and technology to close the gaps between societies and culture - and I am a profound believer in the concept of "World Order". I personally do not believe it is up to the established bureaucracy or elected politicians to dictate and manage it's development. In Kissinger and many others view, it "requires" that "someone has to carry the banner and be the strong voice" -- but try to tell that to the 196 countries on this planet and the 193 members of the UN -- that someone "deserves" or "needs" the upper hand in this transition. It seems logic and rational given the status amongst Great Powers that USA, China and Russia, and eventually India, Japan and EU -- amongst others -- will dictate the future "World Order". But one day, we will all face threats grander than our own self-importance - whether it to be threats from the Universe (asteroids++), a tilt in the planets axis, climate change, or even facing again the threat of all-out nuclear war -- and then, just maybe then, we will have an even more "forced reason" to cooperate regardless of our indifferences, cultures and values. Let's hope we dont have to experience World War III for us humans to "meet up again to make sure it does not happen again". 5/5 stars from me for all the thoughts, ideas and feelings this book gave me! Worth every dollar!

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