American Foreign Policy: Alliance Politics in a Century of War, 1914-2014

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The text aims to uncover the roots of the United States' near perpetual involvement in war since the beginning of WWI in 1914. Using alliance politics as the main framework of analysis, it offers a new interpretation that contrasts with the traditional views that war is an interruption of the American foreign policy emphasis on diplomacy. Instead, it posits that war has been the norm during the past century while peaceful interludes were but a time of respite and preparation for the next conflict. After a thorough discussion of the concepts of alliance building and the containment doctrine, the work then addresses such themes as the alliance networks used to confront German and Japanese powers during the early 20th century wars, the role of alliances in containing the Soviet Union during the Cold War, the creation of alliances to restrict and defeat rogue state powers, and whether they were useful when dealing with the challenges posed by terrorism in the post-9/11 world. Each chapter features case studies, a summary, references, and web links. In addition, the book utilizes primary sources, such as U.S. Department of Defense and State documents and presidential statements. An exhaustive study of containment and alliance, this text will be an essential resource for anyone studying U.S. foreign policy, international relations, and national security.

Reviews

James Peterson has given us a coherent and informative analysis of U.S. foreign policy from a perspective often ignored. Anyone who has long studied American Foreign Policy should see things through a somewhat different lens after reading this book. It adds an important perspective to the American role in the world over the last century. * James Larry Taulbee, Professor Emeritus, Emory University, USA *
Utilizing a variety of theoretical perspectives James Peterson presents a compelling analysis of and commentary on the central role alliances have played in four distinct periods of global warfare that engaged American foreign policy from 1914-2014. * Glenn Hastedt, Professor and Chair, Justice Studies Department, James Madison University, USA *
James Peterson presents an interesting and provocative account of the foreign policy of the United States. This volume provides a succinct and excellent overview of the four eras of American foreign policy, its twists and turns to accommodate an ever changing world, as well as its successes and failures over the last one hundred years that he appropriately calls a 'Century of War.' * Gregory C. Ference, Professor of History, Salisbury University, USA *

Author Bio

James W. Peterson is Professor of Political Science and Head of the Department of Political Science at Valdosta State University, USA. He has previously authored two books that focus on NATO.