In this insightful but plodding critique of American foreign policy, national security scholar Johnson (America's Secret Power
) worries that the United States is the world's most unloved "sinner." Patriots need not fear any sweeping moral condemnations of the U.S. from Johnson, however. He is just as concerned with whether U.S. policies enhance the nation's security as with whether they are righteous. The "seven sins" he warns against are American ignorance of the rest of the world; the executive branch's dominance of foreign policy; an overreliance on military solutions; a tendency to act unilaterally; a penchant for isolationism; lack of empathy for others; and a generalized arrogance. Johnson argues that in the post-9/11 era, these traits have hardened into a national "syndrome," leading much of the world to "doubt the wisdom of the United States and its capacity for global leadership." Blending liberalism and realism, his critique is strongest when examining specific policies in detail—such as U.S. arms dealing to other nations (too much) and U.S. foreign aid (not enough). Unfortunately, overly schematic analysis produces a simplistic portrait of America's international role. Despite some persuasive critiques of U.S. foreign policy, this pedantic book leaves the reader with a narrow vision of how this alleged "sinner" might find redemption. (Aug.)
