The Emergence of the Multi-Polar Authoritarian World paints a picture of a complex and rapidly changing global landscape.

This book examines the shift from the post-Cold War liberal democratic order to what the authors describe as a “multi-polar authoritarian world.” The collection spans articles published between 2009 and 2024, analyzing how authoritarian powers like Russia, China, and North Korea have gained global influence while challenging Western liberal democratic values and institutions.

Key Themes

1. The End of the “End of History”: The book challenges Francis Fukuyama’s famous thesis that liberal democracy represented the endpoint of humanity’s ideological evolution. Instead, it documents the rise of competitive authoritarian systems.
2. Russia’s Evolution Under Putin: Several chapters examine how Putin reconstructed Russian power and identity after the collapse of the Soviet Union, positioning Russia as a counterbalance to Western influence.
3. China’s Global Strategy: The book analyzes China’s economic and geopolitical expansion through initiatives like Belt and Road, technology transfer, and strategic investments that have created a form of “informal empire.”
4. North Korea’s Nuclear Strategy: Essays track how North Korea transformed from a regional irritant to a nuclear power with global influence through strategic partnerships with other authoritarian states.
5. European Fragmentation: The migration crisis and other stress points have weakened European unity and created openings for authoritarian influence.
6. American Strategic Missteps: The book critiques U.S. policy decisions, particularly the focus on “endless wars” in the Middle East that diverted attention and resources from addressing the rise of competitive authoritarian powers.

The book is organized thematically around major global players and flashpoints. Particularly valuable is its inclusion of perspectives from diverse authors over a 15-year timespan, allowing readers to see how analyses evolved as events unfolded.

The final section on “flash points” examines specific events like 9/11, the Iraq War, and Russian intervention in Syria as strategic inflection points that accelerated the shift toward a multi-polar authoritarian world.

“The Emergence of the Multi-Polar Authoritarian World” provides a valuable historical record and analysis of a major geopolitical shift. It challenges comfortable Western assumptions about the inevitability of liberal democratic triumph and offers a sobering assessment of the current global landscape. The book would be valuable for policymakers, international relations scholars, and anyone seeking to understand the complex challenges facing liberal democracies today.

As Brian Morra, a noted strategic analyst and author wrote about the book:

“This book takes a look backward at the factors and forces that created the world in which we now live. It provides a rear-view mirror image of how the multi-polar, authoritarian world came to be. It describes how the post-war Western system has become less credible and less important to the global south and to an aggressive collection of authoritarian regimes.

“These countries – pariahs, emergent global south economies, and important regional powers – have created a shadow, parallel universe of economic, trade, and political institutions that is only vaguely appreciated by foreign policy elites in Washington. This parallel order explains why Western economic sanctions do not have the ‘bite’ that they once did. It explains how Russia has been able to sell its oil and gas despite extreme measures to prevent such sales on the part of the West.

“Our foreign policy elite grew up in a world characterized by two epoch-shaping events: the end of the Cold War and the 9/11 shock and resultant two decades of counter-terror war. It is no surprise that many of our officials are stuck in the mental amber of America’s unipolar moment and the tactical exigencies of the post-9/11 wars. They are accustomed to a United States that is the unquestioned global leader, able to dictate its own terms to the world, and willing to back up those terms with extreme sanctions and awesome military force when required or desired.”

Morra concludes about the importance of the book: “The book provides a significant contribution to our understanding of how we came to live in a multi-polar, authoritarian world. I urge you to read it and ponder its many lessons.”

This book examines the reconstruction efforts of three European cities: London following the Great Fire of 1666, Lisbon after the devastating earthquake and tsunami of 1755, and Paris under Napoleon III and his prefect Haussmann. It details the catastrophic events that necessitated rebuilding and explores the visions and challenges faced by architects and leaders in reshaping these urban landscapes.

The book further touches upon the political and social contexts influencing these transformations, as well as the lasting impact of these redesigns on the modern cities.

By focusing on these distinct yet parallel urban renewal projects, the book offers a comparative look at city planning and modernization during significant periods of European history.

The book is built from a lecture given by Dr. Kenneth Maxwell at Harvard University in September 2024. The title of the lecture was: “Catastrophes, Urban Renewal, and Modernism: London after the Great Fire of 1666; Lisbon after the Great Earthquake of 1755; Paris under Napoleon III and the Baron Haussmann.”

The core essay started with a look at London and its transformation through crisis and expansion in the 17th-18th Centuries. The essay then addresses the transformation of Lisbon. The November 1, 1755, earthquake was a catastrophic event of immense scale. Its magnitude and impact are emphasized, noting it was “at least three times more powerful than the volcanic eruption of Krakatoa” and the most powerful earthquake to hit Europe in known history. The final part of the essay focuses on the Paris transformation under the Second Empire. Napoleon III envisioned a new Paris with improved housing and sanitation. Georges-Eugène Haussmann was the key figure in implementing this vision, serving as Prefect of the Seine for 17 years.

The first theme highlighted in the book was urban transformation in response to crisis. Both London after the Great Fire and Lisbon after the earthquake underwent significant urban transformations. While London’s rebuilding was more constrained by existing property rights, Lisbon saw a more radical and centrally controlled redesign. Paris’s transformation was driven by political will and a vision of modernization rather than a sudden catastrophic event.

The second theme emphasized was the key role of strong leadership in the transformation process. Figures like Charles II (in a more passive way in London), Pombal in Lisbon, and Napoleon III and Haussmann in Paris played crucial roles in shaping the urban landscapes of their respective cities. Pombal and Haussmann, in particular, exhibited strong, centralized control over the rebuilding and modernization processes.

The third theme emphasized in the essay is the impact of Enlightenment ideas in animating the process of transformation. The Enlightenment ideals of reason, order, and progress influenced the planning of both the rebuilt Lisbon and the modernized Paris, with a focus on functionality, hygiene, and rational urban layouts.

The final theme was the key role of economic drivers of urban development: The growth of empire and trade fueled London’s expansion, while Pombal’s reconstruction aimed to revitalize the Portuguese economy. Haussmann’s projects in Paris also had significant economic implications, driving real estate development and related industries.

The book highlights the interconnectedness of political, social, economic, and intellectual forces in shaping the urban development of these three major European cities during pivotal periods in their history. The responses to crisis and the deliberate efforts at modernization reveal different approaches and priorities, ultimately leaving distinct and lasting legacies.

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The book focuses on the career and influence of Michael W. Wynne, former Secretary of the Air Force, and his perspectives on American military strategy and technological innovation. The book covers a wide range of topics related to national defense, military modernization, airpower, and global strategic competition. The book emphasizes the need for innovation, interoperability, and a forward-thinking approach to maintaining America’s military advantage in a rapidly changing global landscape.

The book champions innovation in various areas, including: fifth-generation air capabilities, hypersonics, UID and RFID innovations for logistics, cyber warfare, interoperability and partnerships in shaping coalition capabilities, the growing dynamics of change with the OODA loop and decision-making with the crafting of a military kill web, the struggle to overcome the legacy of the land wars, and many other areas of innovation.

The alternative title to the book could have been, Defense Innovation: Reflections on the Work of Michael W. Wynne.
A key driver for Wynne’s approach in government and out has been what we have referred to as the Wynne doctrine: ”If you are ever involved in a fair fight; it is the result of poor planning”

As Lt General (Retired) David Deptula wrote in his forward to the book: “Leadership is more than a title—it is a calling. Few have answered that call with the depth of dedication, intellect, and vision that Michael Wynne demonstrated as the 21st Secretary of the United States Air Force.

“Wynne led with an unwavering commitment to innovation, modernization, and the men and women in uniform who keep our nation safe. His tenure was marked by transformative efforts to ensure the Air Force remained at the forefront of global security, from advocating for advanced air, space and cyber capabilities to emphasizing the integration of cutting-edge technologies into military operations.”

The Honorable Edward Timperlake added: “To me, Mike Wynne was truly a man for all seasons. He always had the courage of his convictions, a true leader that did so much good for American National Security.”

And Lt General (Retired) Preziosa underscored: “This book is a testament to the enduring importance of leadership, vision, and adaptability in ensuring that the United States maintains its edge in global military competition.

When Wynne and the Chief of Staff of the Air Force Mosley were fired in 2008 by the then Secretary of Defense it was an historical turning point in American defense policy. The firing of Mosely and Wynne was not just a personnel move, but the beginnings of a dramatic shift of the U.S. military away from strengthening its global naval and air power projection capabilities in favor of a focus on land operations which would drain the treasury and change the U.S. military for two decades.

When the U.S. woke up to the emergence of the multi-polar world labelled as the “great power competition” by President Trump, it was late in the day to focus on what was needed. Many of the projects which Wynne had initiated or nurtured now became priorities. But twenty years had been wasted and the magnitude of what needed to be done needed a new strategy and policy elite.

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