American Foreign Policy Since World War II

"It is the best and most effectively presented history of US foreign policy available. It is extremely well written. Its accessibility is established by the book’s clear writing and presentation, with no sacrifice of the more challenging theoretical and policy debates regarding US foreign policy since 1945." —Glenn Palmer, Penn State University The Gold Standard for Textbooks on American Foreign Policy American Foreign Policy Since World War II provides students with an understanding of America’s current challenges by exploring its historical experience as the world’s predominant power since World War II. Through this process of historical reflection and insight, students become better equipped to place the current problems of the nation’s foreign policy agenda into modern policy context. With each new edition, authors Steven W. Hook and John Spanier find that new developments in foreign policy conform to their overarching theme—there is an American "style" of foreign policy imbued with a distinct sense of national exceptionalism. This Twenty-First Edition continues to explore America’s unique national style with chapters that address the aftershocks of the Arab Spring and the revival of power politics. Additionally, an entirely new chapter devoted to the current administration discusses the implications of a changing American policy under the Trump presidency. 

Table of Contents:
Preface Acknowledgments Chapter 1 The American Approach to Foreign Policy Learning from Experience The Roots of American Primacy Destiny and Moral Mission PART I THE COLD WAR Chapter 2 From World War to Cold War American Wartime Illusions The Russo-Soviet Approach to Foreign Policy Soviet Expansion after World War II The Strategy of Containment Declaring Cold War: The Truman Doctrine Chapter 3 Containment: From Theory to Practice New Economic and Military Structures Reviving the Western European Allies Confronting Revolution in East Asia Domestic Pressures for a Global Crusade Eisenhower’s “New Look” in Foreign Policy Chapter 4 North-South Tensions and the Vietnam War Developing Countries in the Crossfire Regional Conflicts in Latin America Vietnam: The Limits of Containment Chapter 5 Détente and World-Order Politics Managing the Superpower Rivalry Carter’s Quest for World Order War and Peace in the Middle East Blowback and the Soviet Power Play Chapter 6 Breakthroughs in the Superpower Struggle Reagan’s Rhetorical Offensive Expanding U.S. Military Forces “Rollback” in Developing Countries Alliance Politics in the Late Cold War From Confrontation to Conciliation Chapter 7 The End of the Cold War Bush’s Management of the Soviet Collapse Endgame: The Collapse of the Core Reasons for the Soviet Collapse A Final Appraisal PART II THE NEW WORLD “DISORDER” Chapter 8 Old Tensions in a New Order Great Expectations after the Cold War Bill Clinton’s Embrace of “Geoeconomics” Sources of Global Fragmentation War and Peace in the Middle East The Plight of “Failed States” Lessons from the Regional Crises Chapter 9 The Shifting European Landscape Western Europe: From Community to Union Jump-Starting Democracy in Eastern Europe NATO’s Search for a New Mission “Ethnic Cleansing” in the Balkans U.S.-Russian Relations under Stress Chapter 10 America under Fire Strains in the Unipolar Order The Growing Threat of “Sacred Terror” Terror in the Morning Sky Elements of Counterterrorism A Grand Strategy of Primacy and Preemption Chapter 11 Hot Wars in Afghanistan and Iraq The Afghanistan Campaign Renewed Hostilities against Iraq Flashbacks to Vietnam Chapter 12 Aftershocks of the Arab Spring Obama’s Call for “Renewal” Mass Demands for Democracy Regime Change in Dangerous Places Iraq’s Collapse and the ISIS Challenge A Government in Shambles The Afghan Muddle Chapter 13 The Revival of Power Politics Cold War II with Russia China’s Pacific Challenge Israel’s Shadow in the Middle East Ongoing Threats of Nuclear Proliferation Chapter 14 The End of the American Century? Internal Threats to Democracy Trump and Turmoil Rethinking American Power Appendix A: U.S. Administrations since World War II Appendix B: Chronology of Significant Events, 1945–2017 Appendix C: Select Bibliography Appendix D: Select Websites Appendix E: Select Blogs on American Foreign Policy Index About the Authors

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. John Spanier received his PhD from Yale University. Since joining the faculty of the University of Florida in 1957, Spanier has lectured at the U.S. State Department’s Foreign Service Institute, the Naval War College, military service academies, and several universities. Among his many other books is Games Nations Play.

Review :
"This book offers a thorough and well-written account of US foreign policy in the post-WWII era. It is the most comprehensive work I have found on the subject and is an excellent resource for anyone seeking a detailed account of American behavior in the world in the last century." "Hook and Spanier’s text is clear, concise, and it covers the period since the September 11 terrorist attacks more skillfully than any comparable text I’ve seen." "Hook and Spanier address the major points of American Foreign Policy in a concise, chronological order while also providing analysis of the major events of foreign policy. The authors do an excellent job of profiling policy from various angles without endorsing any one policy. The additional bibliography, electronic resources, and chronological chart all contribute to the overall quality of this book." "It is the best and most effectively presented history of US foreign policy available. It is extremely well written. Its accessibility is established by the book’s clear writing and presentation, with no sacrifice of the more challenging theoretical and policy debates regarding US foreign policy since 1945." "I like the historic overview"