Masters of Illusion. American Leadership in the Media Age.

Masters of Illusion. American Leadership in the Media Age

Steven Rosefielde and D. Quinn Mills

Cambridge University Press: New York, 2007, pp. xxvii, 540.

Masters of Illusion is a critique of past and present US foreign policy and a set of recommendations for achieving a successful future policy. The new policy the authors recommend, 'Strategic Independence', is rooted in an appraisal of US economic strength past and future. It is self-consciously a post-Cold War strategy designed to provide a 'defense of America'. The principal illusion the title of the book refers to is that US policy 'can remake the world into American-type democracies with free enterprise economies.... '

The authors assert that the 'publics' wishful thinking' about the possibility of economic and political convergence on the American model misleads US leaders, as does a belief in "harmonism' and an unjustified optimism regarding world historical trends. They inveigh against what they call the 'public culture', which is an amalgam of socially approved attitudes and values undergirding the publics' wishful thinking and the politicians' responses to it. The phrase 'public culture' is similar to J.K. Galbraith's 'conventional wisdom', except that Rosefielde and Mills' term applies to the public at large rather than being primarily exhibited by the intellectuals and academics.

The alternative, strategic independence, is designed to maximise US national security free of public illusions and constraints from allies and international organisations and commitments. The strategy is focused on 'self-defense, not hegemony' in world affairs. It necessarily requires abandonment of the strategy of balance of power. Looking realistically at potential threats to US independence, the authors argue that terrorists represent only an immediate threat, minor in comparison with potential future threats of nuclear destruction. These may come over time from Russian remilitarisation, Chinese modernisation and military vitalisation and, in the very long run, the development of the European Union. Defence of America requires, therefore, a continuous build up of military power sufficient to insure domination of these potential enemies.

The authors' analysis and appraisal of the strength of the US economy provides the economic fulcrum for the policy of strategic independence. According to Rosefielde and Mills, the US has a unique economic system that is able to support world dominant military strength. It is based also on a culture fostering a strong work ethic, openness and entrepreneurship. Together these cultural features afford America with a competitive edge in productivity, and there is no sign of a weakening of these traits. The authors review the economies of Russia, China, Japan and Europe and conclude that none is likely to create an economic climate that would be competitive with that of the US presently or into the future.

A 'general lack of objectivity' in assessing world political and economic relationships has undercut US policy. The leadership needs to break free of the public culture, of the illusions of convergence and harmonism, and focus on self-defence of America. This may require that the leaders lie to the public, as Plato thought permissible for his philosopher-kings.

doi:10.1057/ces.2008.6

James Millar

The George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA

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