Joseph S. Nye, Jr. is the first recipient of Loyola Marymount University’s Global Policy Book Award for his book, “Is the American Century Over?” LMU’s Institute for Leadership Studies and the Global Policy Institute conferred the award at a lecture event on Thursday, March 30, 2017.
Nye is University Distinguished Service Professor and former Dean at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government. An influential scholar of international relations, he has authored 14 books and contributed foundational ideas to his field. He has also served as Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs, Chair of the National Intelligence Council and Deputy Undersecretary of State for Security Assistance, Science and Technology.
In his book “Is the American Century Over?” Nye makes the case against the commonly held belief that U.S. geopolitical power is declining. Published in 2015, the timely book argues that the United States will retain economic and military power for decades to come; and, he says, maintaining and cultivating global alliances will be essential to the country’s continued influence.
“If the American century is to continue, it will not be enough to think of American power over others,” he writes. “One must also think in terms of power to accomplish joint goals which involves power with others.”
“Professor Nye avoids the pitfalls so common to many of those trying to assess United States’ power in an age of terrorism,” said Michael A. Genovese, President of the Global Policy Institute. “Presenting neither a Pollyannaish message, nor condemning the U.S. to global decline, Nye soberly assesses the U.S. role in the world, and suggests ways the country can maintain international leadership while not succumbing to the temptations of imperial overreach.”
In his lecture, Nye presented an overview of the book, and then opened the floor to a Q&A with students and faculty.
“Professor Nye’s visit was an inspiring moment for our faculty and for our students, especially students in our new international relations major,” said Robbin D. Crabtree, Dean of the Bellarmine College of Liberal Arts. “His scholarship engages well-reasoned and civil discourse on the most important – and most complex – issues of the day. This award is well-deserved, and we were honored to welcome him to the Bluff.”