1

RESTD

BOOK REVIEW
1. Misc Info

a. Title - SEIZE THE MOMENT

b. Author - Richard Nixon

c. Publisher - Simon Schuster Publishers New York

d. Total Pages - 309

e. Total Chapters - 7

2. Central Theme. The book intends to address the US role in the world
after historical collapse of Moscow’s satellite regimes in Eastern Europe in 1989.
Since then world has changed dramatically. The US orchestrated the global
coalition to liberate Kuwait in the Persian Gulf War 1990. The death of Soviet
communism and the disintegration of Soviet Empire in 1991 revolutionized the
global political landscape. Author emphasized that it is imperative the United
States seize this moment to secure peace and advance freedom around the
world.

3. The first six chapters are about how the United States should exercise
leadership in the Unipolar world. The seventh chapter is about that what
Americans must do at home to have the means to lead through their actions but
also to be worthy to lead through their example.

4. Contents. The book is divided into seven chapters giving a detailed

study that what should US do after the fall of Russian empire and how should
they do it focusing that US responsibility in the world affairs has increased and
its role as a world leaders demands a lot now.

a. Part1. This chapter deals that mission of US was not completed

with the defeat of communism. This shows that wining a revolution

RESTD
 2
RESTD
is not easy but governing after wining is far more difficult. In this
chapter Author has suggested that new American mission must be
based not on the soft stand and unrealistic idealism but on the hard
rock of enduring geopolitical realities as the states have Ideals and
interests. Author further argued that beyond its security concerns,
the United States has a profound interest in the survival of
democratic states, expansion of economic prosperity through free
trade and development and the promotion of democratic forms of
government.

b. Part 2. In part 2, Author described the conditions and

reasons of break up of Russian umpire. He argues that in the past
conflicting values led US and Russia to look for the few areas of
common interests, but now growing common values have created
limitless possibilities for development of cooperative projects. In this
chapter Author narrated events during the time of collapse of
Russian Empire.

c. Part 3. In chapter3, Richard Nixon discussed the implications

and effects of the Idea of “Common Transatlantic Home” given by
Mikhail Gorbachev. He wrote that US should use this idea to its
own interest and doors of this Common Transatlantic Home should
be open to newly independent republics of Soviet Union.

d. Part 4. In part 4, the author has discussed the idea of shift of

power to the pacific region in 21st century. Japan’s potential, its
relationship with different powers and economic capabilities are
discussed. Also the role of China and its potentials are discussed.
Author recommended that continued US role in the pacific is
indispensable. Without US the pacific triangle will be like a three-
legged stool, unstable and potentially dangerous. The competition

RESTD
 3
RESTD
among Japan, China and Soviet Union be unbridled, with each
driven to seek preeminence in the region.

e. Part 5. In this chapter, Author discussed the role of Muslim

World and view of common people in the west about Islam in 21 st
century. The author said that Muslim world is too large and too
diverse to march to the beat of a single drummer. Only two
common elements exist in Muslim world, the faith of Islam and
problems of political turbulence. Author argued that time has come
for the west to contribute to a renaissance of the Muslim world. If
US engage modern states of Muslim world as full and equal
partners, US can lay the foundation of such rebirth.

f. Part 6. In this chapter, Richard Nixon discussed the Southern

Hemisphere that is Africa, Latin America, East Asia, and South
Asian region. The author argued that US should not turn its back
towards this region and should help these countries to solve their
problems.

g. Part 7. In this part, Author gave the main theme that what US
should do to hold the place of world leader. He discussed that
twenty-first century can be a century of peace. Because of the
destruction power of nuclear weapons there will not be another
world war.

5. Comments. The book suggests that United States must seize this
moment after the fall of communism, to secure peace and to advance freedom
around the world. The end of cold war has made the world more complicated. It
resolved some conflicts but it gave rise to new and more difficult ones and a
central US role became not superfluous but more important now than ever
before.

RESTD