Online Book Event: Exercise of Power: Secretary Robert M. Gates

In his newest book, Exercise of Power: American Failures, Successes, and a New Path Forward in the Post-Cold War World, former Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates provides a candid, sweeping examination of power in all its manifestations, and how it has been exercised, effectively or poorly, by American presidents in the post-Cold War world.

Since the end of the Cold War, the global perception of the United States has progressively morphed from dominant international leader to disorganized entity, seemingly unwilling to accept the mantle of leadership or unable to govern itself effectively. Secretary Robert Gates argues that this transformation is the result of the failure of political leaders to understand the complexity of American power, its expansiveness, and its limitations. He makes clear that the successful exercise of power is not limited to the use of military might or the ability to coerce or demand submission, but must encompass as well diplomacy, economics, strategic communications, development assistance, intelligence, technology, ideology, and cyber. By analyzing specific challenges faced by the American government in the post-Cold War period -- Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, North Korea, Syria, Libya, Russia, China, and others -- Secretary Gates analyzes in depth the ways in which leaders have used the instruments of power available to them. With forthright judgments of the performance of past presidents and their senior-most advisers, firsthand knowledge, and insider stories, Secretary Gates argues that U.S. national security in the future will require learning, and abiding by, the lessons of the past, and re-creating those capabilities that the misuse of power has cost the nation.

This event was made possible through ­­­­­­­­­­­general support to CSIS.