Power and Pragmatism

(Hardback)

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The captivating memoirs of a Political heavyweight, detailing more than 40 years in government.

Sir Malcolm Rifkind's political career has been as glittering as it has been long-lived. Indeed, he served as a minister for eighteen years, longer uninterrupted service than anyone since Lord Palmerston in the nineteenth century. Informed and stimulating, but also more relaxed, amusing and readable than most books of this genre, Rifkind's memoirs include his battles with Margaret Thatcher over Scotland, explain how he helped change Polish history during the Cold War, describe his presence at the Gorbachev-Thatcher summit and tell how he served as both Defence Minister and Foreign Secretary during some of the most turbulent years of the late twentieth century.The book also covers Rifkind's five pivotal years as Chairman of the Intelligence Committee, working with MI6, the CIA and both spies and those spied upon. For his robustness, he is currently banned from Russia by President Putin. Rifkind's memoir is serious and funny, wise and self-deprecatory. This is a book about the past and the future.

Reviews

"Power and Pragmatism is the vivid and stimulating story of a British statesman, his values and his contribution to a changing Britain and a changing world over the past forty years." - Madeleine Albright, former US Secretary of State; "Malcolm Rifkind was in the top rank of twentieth-century politicians. Few saw events at closer quarters, and this thoughtful memoir shines a light on his life and times." - John Major; "So genteel and quintessentially British as to be oddly reassuring in these tumultuous times. [...] Most readers will find more to get their teeth into as it begins to discuss more deeply foreign affairs and a series of disputes (on Europe, -Anglo-American relations and the question of intervention) with which we are still dealing today." - New Statesman

Author Bio

Malcolm Rifkind was born in Edinburgh in 1946. In 1974, he was elected as MP for Edinburgh Pentlands and represented that constituency until 1997. He was MP for Kensington & Chelsea and then Kensington from 2005 until 2015. He has served in ministerial roles under the premierships of Margaret Thatcher and John Major. He has been Secretary of State for Scotland, Transport and Defence, and then Foreign Secretary. In 1997 he was knighted in recognition of his public service.