In the last couple of years, I've tortured myself with books about politics. Tortured through either books that look at things done well in the past, or looking at the current US president and the things he is doing completely wrong.

The Empty Throne looks at foreign policy and the ways that Trump (and previous presidents to a lesser extent) have failed in that foreign policy. The Next Decade, by George Friedman, which I am just finishing, also looks at foreign policy and suggest goals for the upcoming decade (the book was written a decade ago, so he was talking about the 2010s). Somehow, I don't think he took Trump into consideration

In both books, foreign policy is described in very pragmatic terms of playing other countries off of each other for the benefit of the US, not going for the idealistic goals of improving other countries and encouraging democracy around the world. The Empty throne then looks at Trump's actions in relation to foreign policy, and especially his behaviour towards Russia and North Korea and Iran, as well as his hostility towards traditional allies, and Trump comes up looking very foolish, if not downright dangerous.

And the sad thing is, if the author was writing the book today, he would have even more material. He might even be able to double the length of the book.

I would definitely read a follow-up at the end of the Trump presidency, whether next year or in five years. No matter how tortuous it might be


Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for letting me read this

THE EMPTY THRONE by Ivo H. Daalder and James M. Lindsey focuses on the broader idea of "America's Abdication of Global Leadership." Kirkus describes this scholarly text as "accessibly written and has worth as a primer." I concur and believe that it will be of special interest to those students who are researching the evolving roles of the United States versus China as world leader. Daadler (the president of the Chicago Council on Global Affairs) and Lindsay (senior vice president and Maurice R. Greenberg chair at the Council on Foreign Relations) have collaborated previously on a work about US foreign policy. Here, they discuss a new world order and are focusing on more recent events such as Putin's invasion of the Ukraine or trade wars and tariffs, along with the tenures of Secretary of State Tillerson and Secretary of Defense Mattis.

Learn more about the book and its authors through interviews with NPR's Mara Liasson and local radio station WBEZ's Steve Edwards. Look for THE EMPTY THRONE on our shelves soon.

Link in posted review:
https://www.cfr.org/blog/learning-more-about-empty-throne

In The Empty Throne, Ivo Daalder and James Lindsay highlight Trump's foreign policy successes while not pulling punches about his failures. Daalder and Lindsay present the US's foreign policy as a historical continuity from President Wilson and the League of Nations to Truman and the Marshall Plan to Bush's unilateral aggression to Obama's leading from behind to Trump's nationalism. This even-handed look at the current administration is fascinating, fair, and balanced. Written in a scholarly, detached tone, The Empty Throne attempts an objective evaluation of the Trump administration's efforts thus far. How successful they were in their attempt will largely depend on the reader's political affiliation. For me, this is a much needed look that walks a fine line in a deeply divided nation. Daalder and Lindsay present a well written, academic tone that's accessible to everyone. The Empty Throne is highly recommended to political junkies who want an accurate view without the incendiary rhetoric.

7.5 out of 10!

The world is much less safe and far more uncertain, because the world’s premiere power has abandoned its position. That is basis of The Empty Throne, Ivo Daalder and James Lindsay’s new book. It is a stomach-churning recounting of all the many instances where Donald Trump ignored protocol, betrayed America’s’ friends, sidled up to authoritarians, destroyed relationships, and undermined the rule of law. The book is focused purely on the foreign policy aspects of the Administration after less than two years, and that is more than enough.

The three pillars of foreign policy are security alliances, open trade, and support for democracy, human rights and the rule of law. Trump has trampled all of them, with nothing whatever to show for it. Instead, the authors say, America’s partners have gone on without it, negotiating new multilateral trade treaties that don’t include it and which the US will find impossible to join later because it had no input. On the political front, China has stepped up to take over the top dog spot, without having to fire a shot, even a verbal one. Incredibly, global polls show more people have faith in President for Life Xi Jinping than in Donald Trump. The leader of the free world is not.

For Trump, every treaty is the worst in history. Everyone is getting rich while the USA is getting poorer. Nothing could be further from the truth, of course. American policy has been a tightly constructed plan to take advantage of other countries by allowing them to bloom. At the same time, their success allows the US not to have to physically take control or occupy, saving it a fortune. The American Empire is based on increasing wealth, mostly its own. And it has worked well for decades. By leading, not “winning”. Unlike the friends of other nations, The Empty Throne says, US allies have been “multipliers of American power and values.” Greasing the skids has been massively successful. Now, no one knows what to expect. But it can’t be as good.

Instead of a worldwide trading system, Trump insists on bilateral trade deals, presumably 200 of them, a massive undertaking that could consume decades. Yet not a single country offered to start talks on such a deal throughout 2017. They know they are much better off with a global marketplace than a bilateral one. So for the great dealmaker, there is not a single deal to show off, not in trade and not in politics. Iran, Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan and North Korea have agreed to nothing with Donald Trump’s Administration. The US has not “won” anything, anywhere. And it is no longer leading. “Trump’s policies emphasized theatrics. They ignored fundamentals,” the authors say.


They point out that Trump took out a full page ad in the New York Times in 1987, laying out all the same foreign policy criticisms he still employs. He hasn’t changed in 30 years. His is an Administration of One. He needs no advisors; he knows everything himself. His own staff, departments and military are given no more respect than Mexico or Australia, and far less than Russia or Saudi Arabia. Trump’s world is lean and mean. And crass. He used his speaking time at the UN General Assembly to threaten to demolish another country, the very thing America set up the UN to avoid.

The world has no idea what to make of it, and seems to be just watching. The authors cite Napoleon : “Never interrupt your enemy while he’s making a mistake,” and so the world is calm while Donald Trump rampages over America’s friends while sidling up to its foes.

The chaos at the Department of State is embarrassing. Ambassadors around the world are quitting for lack of support and direction, when there is not outright contradiction, making their jobs impossible. The Secretary of State found out he was fired – on Twitter - after most of the world knew. Trump claims his actions have made allies “like us better” and “respect us more”. But Pew Research found that respect for American leadership is plunging around the world, and most of all with its allies. According to polls, the US has fallen to third place in global leadership, just barely ahead of Russia. This is no one’s idea of greater respect – except for Trump.

The authors wisely avoid speculation. They do not venture down the road of the dollar no longer being the reserve currency, or how China might choose to reshape the world in its own image. But they are dumfounded that Trump would simply abandon the throne – without a deal to make up for it. As Jia Qingguo said, “The US is not losing leadership. You’re giving it up. You’re not even selling it.” China can’t believe its great luck.

David Wineberg