Clinton's World: Remaking American Foreign Policy

(Hardback)

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No modern US president interited a stronger international position than Bill Clinton. In 1992, the Cold War was over, and the nation was at peace and focused on domestic issues. Despite this, Clinton would soon be faced with a barrage of crises, including flare-ups of unrest in the Middle East, ethnic conflict in Yugoslavia, uneasy relations with Japan and China, persistent trouble in the Persian Gulf, the dissolution of the USSR, and disastrous situation in Somalia and Haiti. In this overview of Clinton's foreign policy, the author shows the effects of combining the confusion of a busy overseas agenda with Clinton's personality characteristics. By the second term, he reversed himself on some major aspects of policy, to the benefit of the country and the world at large.

Reviews

Clinton's World provides an interesting account of the many zig-zags of the Clinton foreign policy and its various domestic and international crises. It is a good introduction to the topic that emphasizes both strengths and limitations on the use of American power-Booklist
Hyland doesn't shrink for a strong conclusion: adopting an ad hoc 'selective engagement' approach instead of a clear direction for American foreign policy has meant that 'a magnificent historical opportunity to shape the international system had been missed.' Clinton's blunders invite this kind of harsh criticism."-Kirkus Reviews
Hyland has written a superb book on Bill Clinton's foreign policy. At the heart of the book are the case studies in which Hyland builds on his own extensive knowledge and experience in the foreign policy proces. Hyland's book....is the strongest analytical study we have of Clinton's foreign policy.-Political Science Quarterly
In 15 crisp, readable chapters, Hyland chronicles the evolution of the president's outlook from inexperience and idealism to trial-and-error pragmatism.-Library Journal
Without a blueprint to replace the one designed to orchestrate the cold war world, the Clintonites have blown their historical opportunity, according to Hyland, a caustic assessment congenial to Clinton opponents.-Booklist
"Clinton's World provides an interesting account of the many zig-zags of the Clinton foreign policy and its various domestic and international crises. It is a good introduction to the topic that emphasizes both strengths and limitations on the use of American power"-Booklist
"Hyland has written a superb book on Bill Clinton's foreign policy. At the heart of the book are the case studies in which Hyland builds on his own extensive knowledge and experience in the foreign policy proces. Hyland's book....is the strongest analytical study we have of Clinton's foreign policy."-Political Science Quarterly
"In 15 crisp, readable chapters, Hyland chronicles the evolution of the president's outlook from inexperience and idealism to trial-and-error pragmatism."-Library Journal
"Without a blueprint to replace the one designed to orchestrate the cold war world, the Clintonites have blown their historical opportunity, according to Hyland, a caustic assessment congenial to Clinton opponents."-Booklist
"Hyland doesn't shrink for a strong conclusion: adopting an ad hoc 'selective engagement' approach instead of a clear direction for American foreign policy has meant that 'a magnificent historical opportunity to shape the international system had been missed.' Clinton's blunders invite this kind of harsh criticism.""-Kirkus Reviews

Author Bio

WILLIAM G. HYLAND was editor of Foreign Affairs from 1984 through 1992, and subsequently, was a research professor of international relations at Georgetown University's School of Foreign Service. He pursued a long career in government, with the CIA, the National Security Council Staff, and as Assistant Secretary of State for Intelligence. He is the co-author of The Fall of Khrushchev (1968) and the author of Mortal Rivals (1987) and The Cold War Is Over (1989).