A new understanding of the post World War II era, showing what occurred when the British Empire wouldn't step aside for the rising American superpower-with global insights for today.An enduring myth of the twentieth century is that the United States rapidly became a superpower in the years after World War II, when the British Empire-the greatest in history-was too wounded to maintain a global presence. In fact, Derek Leebaert argues in Grand Improvisation, the idea that a traditionally insular United States suddenly transformed itself into the leader of the free world is illusory, as is the notion that the British colossus was compelled to retreat. The United States and the U.K. had a dozen abrasive years until Washington issued a "declaration of independence" from British influence. Only then did America explicitly assume leadership of the world order just taking shape. Leebaert's character-driven narrative shows such figures as Churchill, Truman, Eisenhower, and Kennan in an entirely new light, while unveiling players of at least equal weight on pivotal events. Little unfolded as historians believe: the Truman Doctrine and the Marshall Plan; the Korean War; America's descent into Vietnam. Instead, we see nonstop U.S. improvisation until America finally lost all caution and embraced obligations worldwide, a burden we bear today.Understanding all of this properly is vital to understanding the rise and fall of superpowers, why we're now skeptical of commitments overseas, how the Middle East plunged into disorder, why Europe is fracturing, what China intends-and the ongoing perils to the U.S. world role.

CONTENTSIntroduction 3I: THEY THOUGHT IT WAS PEACE1. The Three in 1945 112. Keynes & Co. 333. Entering the Middle East 564. False Starts 79II: A CHILLING WORLD5. Warfare States 1116. Year of the Offensive 1377. Defending the West 1618. The Outer Fortress: Protecting the Middle East, Africa, and Asia 188III: CHIPS ON THE TABLE9. Auditing an Empire 21310. Pivoting to Asia and into Vietnam 23511. War on the Rim 25612. Asia's Three Fighting Fronts 280IV: THE GROUND CHANGES13. "Holding the Ring" in Iran and Egypt 30514. Churchill Is Back 32815. Stemming the Tide 35216. Coronations and Crises 374V: A NEW SUPREMACY17. The Break Points of 1954 40118. Ordering Chaos 42619. No End of a Lesson 45120. What Happened Next 480Conclusion 505NOTES 517ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 583INDEX 587