In the book, he explains how Western ideas changed with the 1648 Peace of Westphalia treaty,[2][unreliable source?]

and explains the four systems of historic world order: the Westphalian Peace born of 17th-century Europe, the central imperium philosophy of China, the religious supremacism of political Islam, and the democratic idealism of the United States.

Kissinger aims to provide a window into today's struggling framework of international order.

[3] The New York Times praised the book, declaring, "his writing functions like a powerful zoom lens, opening out to give us a panoramic appreciation of larger historical trends and patterns, then zeroing in on small details and anecdotes that vividly illustrate his theories.

"[4] The book has also garnered positive reviews from Hillary Clinton, The Wall Street Journal, Time, The Los Angeles Times, and The Guardian, among many others.