By More Than Providence: Grand Strategy and American Power in the Asia Pacific Since 1783

"By More Than Providence" traces the history of American grand strategy in the Asia Pacific region from 1783 to modern times. Through extensive research and documentation, Green examines how U.S. leaders balanced competing interests and shifting power dynamics across this vital region. The book analyzes key decision points and policy debates that shaped America's Asia Pacific engagement over more than two centuries. Green draws on his experience as senior director for Asia at the National Security Council to provide perspective on the strategic frameworks that guided American statecraft. Each chapter explores a distinct period of U.S.-Asia relations, examining the philosophical, economic, and security considerations that drove policy choices. The narrative incorporates primary sources and newly declassified materials to reconstruct pivotal moments. This sweeping strategic history reveals enduring patterns in how American leaders have conceptualized and pursued national interests in Asia. The work illustrates the constant tension between idealistic visions of American purpose and the pragmatic limits of power projection across the Pacific.

Readers describe this as a detailed examination of America's historical approach to Asia-Pacific foreign policy. The book draws on Green's experience as a former NSC official and extensive archival research. Liked: - Deep analysis of lesser-known historical episodes - Integration of primary sources and declassified documents - Clear explanations of complex diplomatic relationships - Useful maps and illustrations Disliked: - Dense academic writing style - Excessive detail slows the narrative - Some readers found the early chapters on 18th/19th century less relevant - High level of assumed knowledge about international relations Ratings: Goodreads: 4.3/5 (23 ratings) Amazon: 4.6/5 (31 ratings) Notable review quotes: "Comprehensive but sometimes overwhelming in detail" - Goodreads reviewer "Required reading for Asia-Pacific policy professionals" - Amazon reviewer "Could have been more concise without losing substance" - Foreign Affairs reader

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🌏 The author, Michael J. Green, served as special assistant to the president for national security affairs and senior director for Asian affairs at the National Security Council under George W. Bush. 🗺️ The book covers the longest historical timespan of any major work on U.S. Asia-Pacific strategy, beginning with the maiden voyage of the American ship Empress of China to Canton in 1784. ⚔️ During the research process, Green discovered that every U.S. president since Theodore Roosevelt had considered Japan's naval power a potential threat to American interests, decades before Pearl Harbor. 🏛️ The book draws from previously classified documents and extensive archival research across presidential libraries, revealing numerous unknown aspects of American strategic planning in Asia. 🎓 Green spent over a decade researching and writing the book while simultaneously teaching at Georgetown University and serving as senior vice president for Asia at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS).