The four ages of American foreign policy: weak power, great power, superpower, hyperpower

In The Four Ages of American Foreign Policy, the eminent authority on American foreign policy Michael Mandelbaum offers a new framework for understanding the history of the foreign policy of the United States. He divides that history into four distinct periods, each of them defined by the consistent increase in the power the country has had at its disposal in its relations with other countries.

In 'The Four Ages of American Foreign Policy', the eminent authority on American foreign policy Michael Mandelbaum offers a new framework for understanding the history of the foreign policy of the United States. He divides that history into four distinct periods, each of them defined by the consistent increase in the power the country has had at its disposal in its relations with other countries.

"Terrorist attacks on New York City and Washington D.C. on September 11, 2001, launched the United States into three wars: a global war on terror; a war in Afghanistan; and a war against Saddam Hussein's regime in Iraq. In both Afghanistan and Iraq American efforts to install stable, democratic, friendly governments encountered opposition, and the United States found itself fighting against insurgencies in both places. In 2008, a severe financial crisis struck America, which led to a prolonged global recession. By the end of this period, Russia, China, and Iran had begun to mount serious challenges to American interests in Europe, East Asia, and the Middle East respectively. This brought an end to the fourth age of American foreign policy"--