The Ugly American

A good read today, The Ugly American by authors William Lederer and Eugene Burdick, written at a time (during the Cold War) where anti-American sentiment ran very high and the concern for the ever growing influence of communism in the Southeast Asian continent were running at odds against each other in the fictional country of Sarkhan.  An imminent invasion by the Soviets, while simultaneously an attempt to industrialize Sarkhan by the Americans, is the backdrop for this interesting battle to determine which is right for their people.  Gilbert MacWhite, the newly appointed American ambassador to Sarkhan is faced with how to handle this delicate situation.  Contrast the diplomatic approach with Homer Atkins, a clever, hard-working engineer with no patience for diplomats, and other “fools” who are working to industrialize the nation.  These two divergent approaches to solve other countries' problems (are they really problems or American’s view that other countries should be like us?) has caused major battles around the world for the US and our foreign policy.  This book’s message could be seen over and over again today with much of the continued foreign policy in “who knows best.”  A story with a message in a “fictional locale."