World Order
Henry Kissinger , 2015
“I know that I know nothing” – Socretes
In 2023 we lost one of our elder statesmen Henry Kissinger. As polarizing as he may be, Kissinger served his country in every capacity he was called to dutifully his entire life. It’s important to note that during his influence the ultimate catastrophe never materialized. In World Order well into his 90’s, Henry leaves us with his insights on how the world works from both historical and contemporary context.
The first few chapters give us historical background on our current rules based order beginning with the treatise of Westphalia which ushered in the modern era of respect for state sovereignty. He goes on to explain the strategies employed by the major power brokers of Europe, America, Asia and the Middle East that have shaped our history through the Cold War and into today’s post Cold War era.
While most of us only have an armchair understanding of the balance of world power, Kissinger provides us with an educated perspective that is largely objective. He veers into subjectivity only for events that he was personally witness to, sharing his experiences as a diplomat and Secretary of State during the mid to late 20th century. I found the personal accounts particularly entertaining as a voyeuristic look into events that have shaped civilization during my own lifetime.
In the last chapter Kissinger poses some very real questions about the future by showing tremendous respect and understanding of our emerging technological and political landscape.
World Order is a fantastic read for anyone interested in history from someone who was actually a part of it. In an age of anxiety I found it an excellent reminder that there are very smart people working for our best interests at level that most of us don’t even comprehend.