A Red Line in the Sand: Diplomacy, Strategy, and the History of Wars That Might Still Happen
David A Andelman
Rave
Positive
Mixed
Pan
A Red Line in the Sand: Diplomacy, Strategy, and the History of Wars That Might Still Happen
David A Andelman
Rave
Positive
Mixed
Pan
Rave
Positive
Mixed
Pan
The Syria imbroglio looms large for Andelman, but it is just one part of a book with much broader ambitions. He wants to explore the phenomenon of red lines, track their past and present use, and distill some understanding of when they work and when they fail. As he moves from the particular to the general, he sketches a mostly dystopic world where dangerous lines are proliferating as the existing international order collapses. 'There have never been more red lines at any one point in history than today.' It is an arresting claim, but the author does not explain how he reaches it. He employs the term “red line” profligately but without a clear definition. It refers to physical borders in some contexts. At other times, he uses it to mean strong national interests or zones of influence. In still other situations, it seems to refer to international rules and norms.
A look at the world’s flash points for conflict, whose number seems to be growing exponentially.
A lucid and concise examination of the recent proliferation of contested boundaries ('physical, diplomatic, military, all too often existential') around the world.