Leadership Quote by Robert Foster Bennett

Robert Foster Bennett’s statement reflects on a pivotal transformation in global relations and geopolitical dynamics following the end of the Cold War. The reference to the Berlin Wall’s collapse marks the symbolic demise of the sharp division between East and West, communism and democracy, and signifies the dissolution of the Soviet Union, famously labeled the "evil empire". This historic event did not simply alter diplomatic alignments; it catalyzed the creation of a new world order. The certainties and established enmities of the old bipolar conflict gave way to a complex, multipolar landscape, in which new alliances, threats, and opportunities emerged.

Bennett’s assertion acknowledges that the disappearance of a monolithic adversary did not lead to a safer, more isolated existence. Instead, it pulled nations, especially major powers like the United States, into an increased level of involvement with global issues. With the Cold War’s end, there was an expectation for greater peace and stability; however, new conflicts and challenges arose, regional wars, ethnic conflicts, terrorism, economic interdependence, environmental crises, and the rapid spread of information technologies.

The phrase “We are engaged around the world whether we like it or not” underlines a fundamental reality of the post-Cold War era: disengagement is no longer an option. Interdependence, economically, politically, and culturally, binds nations together, demanding active participation in world affairs. Issues are no longer contained by borders, and the repercussions of distant events are felt widely and immediately. It underscores a sense of inevitability, that with great power comes not only influence but responsibility. Thus, the statement serves as both an observation and a subtle admonition, speaking to lawmakers and citizens alike about the necessity and inevitability of involvement on the global stage, shaped by the irrevocable changes of the late twentieth century.