A Concise History of U.S. Foreign Policy

by Joyce P. Kaufman

Overview

Now in a fully updated edition that goes through the Obama administration and the election of Donald Trump, this compact and accessible introduction offers a historical perspective on the evolution of U.S. foreign policy from the founding to the present. Joyce P. Kaufman provides students with a clear and concise understanding of key decisions and why they were made. She identifies the major themes that have guided foreign policy and the reasons that the United States pursued the policies that it did in the context of specific periods in the nation’s history. The book focuses on the major actors involved in the making of foreign policy and the changing relationships among them. It also explains the major theoretical perspectives within international relations and places key foreign policy decisions within these frameworks. Kaufman concludes with a look forward to the challenges the United States will face in the coming decades. With its strong narrative and use of compelling case studies, the book engages students fully in this crucial topic, encouraging them to form their own ideas about American foreign policy.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781442270466
Publisher:	Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.
Publication date:	02/08/2017
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	266
File size:	2 MB
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

Joyce P. Kaufman is professor of political science and director of the Center for Engagement with Communities at Whittier College.

Table of Contents

Preface to the Fourth Edition

Chapter 1 Setting the Stage for Understanding U.S. Foreign Policy
Chapter 2 Unilateralism to Engagement: The Founding to the End of World War I, 1777–1920
Chapter 3 From Isolationism to Superpower: The Interwar Years through World War II, 1920–1945
Chapter 4 The Making of a Superpower: Cold War Foreign Policy, 1946–1980
Chapter 5 The Cold War and Beyond: Reagan through Clinton, 1981–2000
Chapter 6 George W. Bush: A New Direction for U.S. Foreign Policy? 2000–2008
Chapter 7 Obama and U.S. Foreign Policy: 2008–2016 and Beyond
Chapter 8 The Future of U.S. Foreign Policy

Suggested Readings
Notes

Editorial Reviews

PRAISE FOR THE FIRST EDITION
Kaufman offers a work for political science students that focuses on overarching themes (e.g., national interest), decision processes (e.g., interplay within the executive), and decision makers (e.g., the president, Congress). Recommended.

CHOICE

PRAISE FOR THE FIRST EDITION
Joyce Kaufman's A Concise History of U.S. Foreign Policy is a wonderfully readable guide. It will be a welcome addition to the classroom.

James Goldgeier

PRAISE FOR THE FIRST EDITION
Sometimes shorter is better. This compact and carefully written text skillfully analyzes the steady growth of American international reach and the irregular patterns of its involvement abroad.

Barry Hughes

PRAISE FOR THE FIRST EDITION
Written in a lively, student-friendly manner on a subject—the evolution of U.S. foreign policy—with which students are woefully unfamiliar, this slender volume fills a vital role for those instructors who want to acquaint their students with the sweep of the American foreign policy experience without overwhelming the course. The style is lively and engaging. I found the discussion of the early Cold War particularly valuable. A recommended supplement.

Donald M. Snow

A welcome addition to texts on U.S. foreign policy. The book provides a very comprehensive and yet succinct overview of theories, the history of U.S. foreign policy from the founding of the country, and a contemporary analysis of foreign policy and considerations for the future. The inclusion of a feminist analysis, which is often neglected in most texts, is also appreciated. The writing is very accessible to students, linking their own lives to how and why foreign policy matters to them.

Kristen Williams

Teachers of American foreign policy often struggle to find the right balance between diplomatic history and contemporary policy debates. In a short and highly readable text, Joyce Kaufman gets the balance just right and provides an anchor for building effective classroom discussions about where we have come from and where we might be headed.

Robert Strong

A very good, concise summary suitable for undergraduate students in U.S. International Relations.

Andrew F. Clark

A welcome addition to texts on U.S. foreign policy. The book provides a very comprehensive and yet succinct overview of theories, the history of U.S. foreign policy from the founding of the country, and a contemporary analysis of foreign policy and considerations for the future. The inclusion of a feminist analysis, which is often neglected in most texts, is also appreciated. The writing is very accessible to students, linking their own lives to how and why foreign policy matters to them.

Kristen P. Williams

Joyce Kaufman’s new edition of A Concise History of U.S. Foreign Policy is excellent. It updates previous editions not only with discussion of the Obama administration’s policies but also with added historical perspectives. For the classroom, the text challenges students through interesting case studies to discuss and debate contentious foreign policy decisions. At the same time, its concise nature allows faculty to complement the text with additional materials.

Gale Mattox

This book is comprehensive, accessible, and thought-provoking. It gives the student enough information about the players and institutions who make U.S. foreign policy, and it carefully covers the significant events that help to shape the foreign policy narrative in the United States. It is the work of a first-rate scholar who clearly cares about teaching. A rare contribution to our critical analysis of U.S. foreign policy that is so badly needed today.

Steven Lamy