The Chautauqua lectures offer up some remarkable speakers, notable for their influence and expertise. In this respect Robert Kagan meets the standards, and what he has to say is very compelling. I do however think his introduction and the description of his talk is misleading.

As a previous reviewer noted, Mr. Kagan is better known for his neo-conservative efforts within the Project for a New American Century, than for his work as a senior associate at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.

Mr. Kagan supports war to further U.S. interests and believes allies in the international community should be given “influence” by the U.S. only if they agree to support America’s methods to fight “terror”.

Mr. Kagan criticizes Europe’s reluctance to “engage” with troubled regions of the world. For Mr. Kagan, “engagement” means military engagement. He ignores Europe’s considerable economic, developmental and diplomatic engagement with many fractious states.

Mr. Kagan makes the argument that when the U.S. had less power it was a great supporter of international law, unlike Europe. He seems to forget that the first international peace conference was held in The Hague, the first treaties were instigated mainly by European countries and Russia.

One has to dispute Mr. Kagan’s premise that U.S. foreign policy varies little in spite who is in power. I don’t recall public discussions on the legitimacy of torture taking place under past U.S. administrations.

This program was recorded in 2004 and one can’t help think that Mr. Kagan’s views must have changed in the wake of the failed occupation of Iraq and new revelations of torture in Guantanamo Bay and Afghanistan.

To re-cap, the Chautauqua lectures provide marvelous opportunities to hear speakers who are shaping our world. With a more accurate introduction to place Mr. Kagan in his proper context, this presentation is worth a listen.