A World in Disarray by Richard Haass Summary
Overview of A World in Disarray
Richard Haass's "A World in Disarray" unveils how the post-WWII global order is crumbling. The Council on Foreign Relations president's "World Order 2.0" concept sparked fierce debate among policymakers by redefining sovereignty as obligation - a blueprint for navigating our increasingly nonpolar world.
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Key takeaways
The Day the World Stopped Making Sense
Picture the morning of November 9, 2016. Half the world woke up stunned by an election result few saw coming, while Britain was still reeling from its Brexit vote months earlier. Suddenly, the international order that had governed global affairs for decades seemed to be unraveling in real time. Richard Haass, a diplomat who'd spent his career navigating the corridors of power across multiple administrations, recognized this wasn't just political turbulence-it was a fundamental rupture in how the world worked. His book arrived as world leaders scrambled to understand what was happening. Barack Obama reportedly read it in his final weeks in office. Even George Clooney referenced it in interviews. Why? Because Haass offered something rare: a clear explanation of how we got here, written by someone who'd been in the room where it happened. Think of world order not as some utopian dream of global harmony, but as the basic plumbing of international relations-the rules and power structures that keep things flowing. Throughout history, order has required two ingredients: legitimacy (agreement on what's acceptable) and power (the muscle to enforce it).
From Westphalia to World Wars
Cold War Stability and Global Institution Building
The Post-Cold War Paradox
New Threats in a Connected World
Sovereign Obligation for a Globalized Era
The Burden of American Leadership
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From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
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