Leadership: Six Studies in World Strategy

In Leadership, Henry Kissinger delves into the lives and strategies of six extraordinary leaders who shaped their countries and the world through their unique approaches to statecraft. Kissinger, drawing on his historical perception, public experience, and personal knowledge from having known these figures, presents an insightful analysis of how each leader navigated the complex intersections between the past and the future, as well as between enduring values and the aspirations of their people.

Kissinger examines:

Konrad Adenauer: who revived a defeated and morally devastated Germany post-World War II through what Kissinger terms "the strategy of humility."
Charles de Gaulle: who restored France's historic grandeur and aligned it with the victorious Allies using "the strategy of will."
Richard Nixon: who, during the Cold War, secured geostrategic advantage for the United States through "the strategy of equilibrium."
Anwar Sadat: who sought to bring peace to the Middle East after decades of conflict with "the strategy of transcendence."
Lee Kwan Yew: who transformed Singapore into a global powerhouse with "the strategy of excellence."
Margaret Thatcher: who revitalized Britain, once deemed "the sick man of Europe," by employing "the strategy of conviction."
Kissinger’s exploration is not just an academic analysis; it is enriched by his firsthand involvement in many of the events he describes, offering unique insights into the qualities that make a leader effective in shaping world order. The book concludes with Kissinger’s reflections on the continuing importance of strong, visionary leadership in today’s world.