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

Sixth Edition


July 2019 | 376 pages | CQ Press
“Hook’s text delivers a comprehensive but up-to-date and easily accessible account of the internal and external forces that constrain U. S. foreign policy makers.” 
—Niall Michelsen, Western Carolina University

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. Bestselling author Steven W. Hook shows readers how to think critically about these cascading developments and the link between the process and the conduct of U.S. foreign policy. 

The Sixth Edition highlights global and domestic shifts in the balance of power that affect U.S. foreign policy. It includes essential coverage of foreign policy initiatives under the Trump administration and how they compare to the actions of his recent predecessors. The most pressing question is whether U.S. foreign policymakers can manage these dynamics in a manner that preserves U.S. primacy.

 
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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

 
Key Terms

 
 
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

 
Key Terms

 
 
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

 
Key Terms

 
 
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

 
Key Terms

 
 
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

 
Key Terms

 
 
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

 
Key Terms

 
 
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

 
Key Terms

 
 
Chapter 8. The Impact of Mass Communications
Functions of the News Media

 
Patterns of Foreign News Coverage

 
The Social Media Revolution

 
Online News and Views From Overseas

 
Conclusion

 
Key Terms

 
 
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

 
Key Terms

 
 
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

 
Key Terms

 
 
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

 
Key Terms

 
 
Chapter 12. Transnational Policy Problems
Managing the Global Commons

 
The Immigration Debate

 
The Dangers of Weapons Proliferation

 
Human Rights and Democracy

 
Prospects for “Exporting” Democracy

 
Threats to Democracy at Home

 
Conclusion

 
Key Terms

 
 
Appendix A: U.S. Administrations Since World War II
 
Appendix B: The War Powers Resolution of 1973
 
Glossary
 
Notes
 
References
 
Index
 
About the Author

Supplements

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“Hook’s text delivers a comprehensive but up-to-date and easily accessible account of the internal and external forces that constrain U. S. foreign policy makers.”

Niall Michelsen
Western Carolina University

“In his U. S. Foreign Policy book, Steven Hook provides an unbiased and detailed survey of American foreign policy and its dilemmas and paradoxes over time. Its framework is especially valuable in explaining many of the country’s foreign policy dilemmas and challenges under the Trump Administration. It is highly recommended for students, scholars, and professionals in the area of U. S. foreign policy.”

Ivan Dinev Ivanov
University of Cincinnati

“There are some pretty good texts on the process of U. S. foreign policymaking and some pretty good books on the content and history of U. S. foreign policy, but there are very few that combine both in anything more than a perfunctory manner. That makes this text one of the most complete and comprehensive introductions to U.S. foreign policy out there. Because major topics are fully contained in separate chapters, the text can be used modularly. Moreover, it is well written for a student audience. While it presents topics for the novice in this field of study, it is not dumbed-down. It nicely combines facts and history with theories of foreign policymaking and analysis. Students who read this book will experience a superb introduction to American foreign policy and how it is studied.”

Steven G. Livingston
Middle Tennessee State University

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