ABSTRACT

No nation has maintained such an immense stature in world politics as the United States has since the Cold War’s end. In the wake of the 9/11 attacks, prompting the global war on terrorism and the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan and Iraq, along with American economic and "soft power" primacy, there has been increased interest in and scrutiny of American foreign policy. The Routledge Handbook of American Foreign Policy brings together leading experts in the field to examine current trends in the way scholars study the history and theories of American conduct in the world, analysis of state and non-state actors and their tools in conducting policy, and the dynamics of a variety of pressing transnational challenges facing the United States.

This volume provides a systematic overview of all aspects of American foreign policy and drives the agenda for further, cutting edge research. Contributors bring analytic depth and breadth to both the ways in which this subject is approached and the substance of policy formulation and process. The Handbook is an invaluable resource to students, researchers, scholars, and journalists trying to make sense of the broader debates in international relations.

part |2 pages

Part I: Research Traditions and Historical Experience

chapter 2|14 pages

Diplomatic History

chapter 3|13 pages

America in the Cold War

chapter 4|13 pages

The Post-Cold War Era

part |2 pages

Part II: Theoretical Perspectives

chapter 5|14 pages

Realism

chapter 6|18 pages

Liberalism

chapter 7|11 pages

Critical Theories

chapter 8|14 pages

Constructivism

chapter 9|14 pages

Bureaucratic Politics

chapter 10|17 pages

Individual and Group Decision Making

part |2 pages

Part III: State Actors

chapter 11|14 pages

The Presidency

chapter 12|13 pages

The National Security Council

chapter 14|10 pages

The Department of Defense

chapter 15|14 pages

National Security Intelligence

chapter 17|16 pages

Congress

chapter 18|14 pages

Law and Courts

part |2 pages

Part IV: Non-State Actors

chapter 19|14 pages

Public Opinion

chapter 20|14 pages

News Media

chapter 21|13 pages

Interest Groups

chapter 22|13 pages

Multilateralism

part |2 pages

Part V: Policy Instruments

chapter 23|14 pages

The Use of Military Force

chapter 24|13 pages

Economic Sanctions

chapter 25|15 pages

Foreign Aid

chapter |2 pages

Part VI: Transnational Challenges

chapter 27|15 pages

Counterterrorism

chapter 28|13 pages

Global Trade

chapter 29|14 pages

Human Rights

chapter 30|14 pages

Environmental Policy

chapter 31|13 pages

The Balance of Power