Suchergebnisse

This is a book on how to think - strategically - about foreign policy. Focusing on American foreign policy, this book discusses the national interest as a concept in strategic logic and describes how to select objectives that will take advantage of opportunities to promote interests, while protecting them against threats. It also discusses national power and influence, as well as the political, informational, economic, and military instruments of state power. Based on a graphic model that illustrates strategic logic, the book uses examples from recent American statecraft. It ends with an extended critique of American foreign policy and a detailed outline of an alternative strategy that is better suited to the problems of the 21st century

Excerpts from the memoirs of high foreign policy officials, if carefully selected & structured, can be a valuable resource in the teaching of diplomatic history, American foreign policy, & international relations. Two decades of teaching a memoirs-only course to mid-career military officers & foreign affairs professionals in a seminar discussion format reveals many of their advantages. Memoirs are interesting reading that rarely fail to engage a reader's attention; they impart detailed knowledge of historical events; they provide a rich understanding of process & the neglected area of policy implementation; like case studies, they let students build vicarious experience in policy making & execution; & they often provide what Alexander George called "policy-relevant generalizations." While lack of objectivity can be a serious drawback of first-person accounts, it provides its own lessons on the nature of history & can be offset by using multiple accounts of the same events & by combining memoirs with documents & historical works, or countering analytical studies. Although picking the most interesting & worthwhile excerpts, getting them in students' hands, & accommodating their length within the boundaries of a standard college course are additional challenges, professors who take them on should find that memoirs add a new level of excitement & realism to their courses. 2 Tables. Adapted from the source document.