U.S. Foreign Policy: The Paradox of World Power

The same aspects of American government and society that propelled the United States to global primacy have also hampered its orderly and successful conduct of foreign policy. This paradox challenges U.S. leaders to overcome threats to America′s world power in the face of fast-moving global developments and political upheavals at home. U.S. Foreign Policy explores this paradox, identifies its key sources and manifestations, and considers its future implications. Authors Steven W. Hook and Amy Skonieczny help students learn how to think critically about these cascading developments and the link between the process and the conduct of U.S. foreign policy. 


Table of Contents:
Figures, Tables, Maps, and Boxes Preface Part I The Setting of U.S. Foreign Policy Chapter 1 The United States in a Turbulent World The Paradox of America’s World Power The Numbers of U.S. Foreign Policy Conclusion Chapter 2 The Expansion of U.S. Power Economic and Territorial Expansion Fighting Two World Wars Global Primacy and the Cold War New Challenges After the Cold War Conclusion Chapter 3 Dynamics of Decision Making The Global Context: Rival Perspectives Opening the “Black Box” of Domestic Politics The Impact of Civil Society Coping With Bureaucratic Politics The Human Factor Conclusion Part II Inside-Out: Government Sources of Foreign Policy Chapter 4 Presidential Power The Constitution’s Mixed Blessing Presidential Prerogative in the “Zone of Twilight” Structures of the “Presidential Branch” Judicial Interventions in Foreign Policy Conclusion Chapter 5 Congress Beyond the “Water’s Edge” Trends in Legislative-Executive Relations Constraints on Congressional Action Foreign Policy by Committee War Powers and the Use of Force The Power of the Purse Conclusion Chapter 6 The Foreign Policy Bureaucracy Agency Dysfunctions and the Paradox of World Power The Diplomatic Complex The Security Complex The Intelligence Complex The Economic Complex Conclusion Part III Outside-In: External Sources of Foreign Policy Chapter 7 Public Opinion at Home and Abroad Democracy and the Paradox of World Power Public Opinion Since World War II Conclusion Chapter 8 The Impact of Mass Communications Functions of the News Media Patterns of Foreign News Coverage The Social Media Revolution Social Media and Polarization Digital Diplomacy and American Image Abroad Conclusion Chapter 9 Social Movements and Interest Groups Group Action and the Paradox Dynamics of Social Movements Types of Foreign Policy NGOs Group Strategies and Tactics Buying Power: The Corporate Connection Conclusion Part IV Policy Domains Chapter 10 National Security and Defense Policy The Foundation of Strategy Justifying the Use of Force The Nuclear Shadow Waging War on Terror Conclusion Chapter 11 Economic Statecraft Models of Political Economy The Balance of Economic Power Trade Policy as a “Two-Level Game” National Interests and Foreign Aid Economic Sanctions as a Policy Tool Conclusion Chapter 12 Transnational Policy Problems Managing the Global Commons The Immigration Debate Human Rights and Democracy Prospects for “Exporting” Democracy Threats to Democracy at Home Conclusion Appendix A U.S. Administrations Since World War II Appendix B The War Powers Resolution of 1973 Glossary Notes References Author Citations and Index About the Author

About the Author :
Steven W. Hook (1959-2022) was professor of political science at Kent State University. In addition to this book, he was co-author of American Foreign Policy Since World War II (CQ Press, 2019, 21st ed., with John Spanier) and author of National Interest and Foreign Aid (Lynne Rienner, 1995). His edited books include U.S. Foreign Policy Today: American Renewal? (CQ Press, 2012, with James M. Scott), the Routledge Handbook of American Foreign Policy (Routledge Press, 2012, with Christopher M. Jones), and Democratic Peace in Theory and Practice (Kent State University Press, 2010). His journal articles have appeared in World Politics, International Studies Quarterly, Asian Survey, Foreign Policy Analysis, International Interactions, and other leading journals. Professor Hook received a BA (1982) in Journalism and Political Science from the University of Michigan and an MA (1990) and PhD (1993) in International Studies from the University of South Carolina. At Kent State, he received the university’s Distinguished Teaching Award in 2007 and served as department chair from 2008 to 2012. He was a past president of the Foreign Policy Analysis sections of the American Political Science Association and the International Studies Association. Amy Skonieczny is Professor at San Francisco State University in the International Relations Department. Her research interests include populism and foreign policy, narratives and US trade politics, and the study of national identity and foreign policy discourses. She completed her Ph.D. in Political Science at the University of Minnesota. Skonieczny’s publications over the past five years have focused on the rise of populism in the United States, particularly with the Trump presidency and its impact on US trade policy. She is a co-editor of the book series Global Populisms and a board member of the journal Populism. Her recent publications include “Saying the Unspeakable: Populism, Performance and the Politics of Covid-19,” forthcoming in Populism; Political Communication and Performative Leadership in International Politics, edited by Corina Lacatus, Georg Lofflmann and Gustav Meibauer (with Giorgio Boggio); “The Trump Shock: Populism and Changing Narratives of US Foreign Policy” (with Georg Lofflmann and Rubrick Biegon) in Populist Foreign Policy: Regional Perspectives of Populism in the International Scene, edited by Philip Giurlando and Daniel Wajner (2023); “Economic Security and the US-China Trade War” in Contemporary Cases in U.S. Foreign Policy: From National Security to Human Security, 6th edition, edited by Ralph Carter (2021); "Trump Talk: Rethinking Elections, Rhetoric, and American Foreign Policy" in the journal Politics (2021); and "The Trump Effect: Toxic Politics and Emotional Populism in US-China Relations" (with Ancita Sherel), forthcoming in the special issue "The Effects of Global Populism" in International Affairs (expected Fall 2024). 

Review :
One of the best foreign policy books out there. This book has all the aspects that you want to teach. This book does an excellent job outlining the process of US foreign policy and the institutions of US foreign policy. More importantly, it is incredibly accessible and its approach is useful not just to students who are interested in USFP but to all students of American government. An approachable text that uses a range of foreign policy theories to explore the sometimes contradictory ways the United States exercises power in a globalized world. This is a good, readable foreign policy text that covers all the basics.