THE COMING DEFEAT OF COMMUNISM

Dracket this with the author's Struggle for the World (1947) since it deals with the projection of the pattern indicated therein, and brings it up to the present status of the Cold War, in a thoughtful, practical appraisal -- and a detailed get-tough-with-Russia plan. The text falls into four parts:- Part I is a review of the current crisis, produce he feels, by traditional diplomacy, the middle of the road course of western European democracies, our own vacillating, contradictory foreign policy, with special emphasis on China. Part II discusses Communist tactics and diplomatic procedure, totalling all gain and no loss. His position that the Berlin airlift was solely a preservation of the stut quo and not offensive tactics will meet sharp disagreement in many quarters. In concludi this section, Burnham lists what he sees as Russia's soft spots, shifting ideology, satellite countries, economy. Part III sets forth proposals to transform our policy of containment to a dynamic offensive, charting his suggestions of terms for a deal with Russia, a price for peace, used in intensified propaganda attack, in use of the labor movement, in keeping close contact with exiles, refugees, the resistance movement. Part IV discusses the machinery of operation and requirements of personnel....Burnham concludes with a hopeful expression of his confidence in our will to survive as assurance of Communist defeat. While the book indicates competence in an informed political analysis, the presentation lacks the challenge of his Managerial Revolution and any element of inspiration.