To Make and Keep Peace Among Ourselves and with All Nations

Codevilla's (professor emeritus, international relations, Boston Univ; The Ruling Class) purpose in this book is "to recover understanding of political peace as the lodestar by which the American people and statesmen may navigate domestic as well as international affairs on any given day." The author maintains a reasonable tone as he argues that America originally kept peace by focusing on itself and staying out of the affairs of other countries. Over time this sensibility gradually morphed, ending with what the author considers today to be an America that has its military in many countries but with neither enough force to win nor a plan to strive toward peace. Codevilla lists examples of how the philosophy of this country's ruling elite segued over time from a peace-at-all-costs mind-set to a current focus on war and how that change has resulted in increased strife within America.