Game Plan

Publishers Weekly - Publisher's Weekly

The former national security adviser in the Carter administration offers a practical long-range guide to policy and action in the U.S.-Soviet rivalry, which, he writes, ``has been transformed into an endless `game,' with no victory in sight.'' Brzezinski's game plan assumes that the central priority is the struggle for Eurasia, which he divides into three strategic fronts: Europe, the Far East and Southwest Asia (with a possible fourth on the Rio Grande in the future, should the struggle for Central America enlarge in such a way as to inflame the U.S.-Mexican relationshipa development the Soviets would certainly exploit, according to Brzezinski). Among his recommendations: gradual reduction of American forces in NATO combined with pressure from Washington for a more self-reliant Europe. Game Plan is well organized and clearly written, and should be read by anyone who wants to take a short course in the interaction between geopolitics and strategy in the U.S.-Soviet contest, as taught by a first-rate teacher. Brzezinski is on the faculty at both Columbia and Georgetown. (June 27)

Library Journal

Brzezinski, President Carter's National Security Adviser, has dusted off Halford McKinder's idea that control of the ``Heartland of the World Island'' (Eurasia) means command of the world. In doing so he has refocused the rivalry between the United States and the USSR in geopolitical termsi.e., a competition for control of key regions of the Eurasian continent. The competition is long-term, is restrained by the nuclear threat, and occurs on three central fronts: Europe, the Far East, and Southwest Asia. The expansive goals of the USSR must be checked through the use of a U.S. geostrategic long-term plan to strengthen U.S. presence where it is weak, counter Soviet military superiority, and seek to neutralize the USSR's expansion through decay of its empire. Brzezinski's conception is wide in scope and his explanations are lucid. His policy recommendations are definitely conservative and are not out of line with the main thrust of the current Reagan policies. Richard B. Finnegan, Political Science Dept., Stonehill Coll., North Easton, Mass.