The Influence of Small States on Superpowers: Jamaica and U.S. Foreign Policy

(Hardback)

Publishing Details

Classifications

Physical Properties

Description

The conventional wisdom is that small developing countries exert limitedif anyinfluence on the foreign policy of superpowers, in particular the United States. This book challenges that premise based on the experience of the small developing country of Jamaica and its relations with the United States. It raises the question: if the foreign policy of the United States can be influenced by even a small developing country, should Washington be worried

Reviews

Bernal . . . emphasizes the importance of doing ones homework, building trust with important policy players, and identifying mutual interests. Interestingly, Bernal argues that information technology empowers small states by decreasing their transaction costs and increasing their capacity to mobilize constituencies. * Foreign Affairs *
Ambassador Bernal offers well-informed assessments of the challenges confronting small nations seeking to attract favorable attention in Washingtons policy-making, think-tank, and media communities. * IADB: Caribbean DEVTrends *
This book is essential for providing political and congressional leaders, in addition to students of international relations, with an understanding that small and large countries alike have the potential to influence the foreign policy decisions of super powers. I am truly grateful for Ambassador Bernal's service and for sharing his wisdom by discussing and providing first-hand knowledge of his extraordinary experience in shaping Jamaica and U.S. foreign policy decisions. Congratulations to Ambassador Bernal for addressing this issue at a significant juncture in United States foreign policy in the Western Hemisphere. -- Congressman Charles Rangel, Former Chairman, Ways and Means Committee
The dominant school of thought is that the foreign policies of large nations, arewith the exception of symbolic gestures and acts of generosity"impervious to the policy priorities of small states. Jamaica, as a matter of historical fact, turns this theory on its head. Bernal, as Jamaicas ambassador and key strategist, demonstrated a rare mastery of the subtleties, nuances, and complexities of Washington, as revealed in the analysis and documentation in the book. He details the ways in which his small nation was able, between 1991 and 2001, to have an indisputable impact on the foreign policy of the worlds sole superpower. This work is an invaluable resource for policy-makers, students of international relations, those intrigued by the often maze-like character of U.S. foreign policy formulation, and those curious about the insights and skills that enabled Jamaica to have so clear an impact. -- Randall Robinson, Penn State Law
Dr. Bernal has given a scintillating and well-argued account of how, contrary to popular dogma, a small country like Jamaica can influence USA foreign policy. The manner in which this influence was exercised and the lucid account of the lessons learned make this book an important landmark in the international diplomacy especially of small states. There is no direct correlation between diplomatic influence and size. -- Sir George Alleyne, Chancellor of the University of the West Indies
With the publication ofThe Influence of Small States on Superpowers, scholar-practitioner Richard Bernal burnishes his well-deserved reputation for being a leading observer of Washingtons great sausage factory: the unruly making of U.S. foreign policy, of the complex interplay among clashing domestic and varied foreign interests, most particularly with regard to non-crisis regions. Bernal brilliantly demonstrates his core thesisthat size need not matter, that ambition, brains and strategy can carry the daybeyond a reasonable doubt. -- Richard Feinberg, University of California, San Diego and former Senior Director, Inter-American Affairs, National Security Council

Author Bio

Richard Bernal was Jamaicas ambassador to the United States and permanent representative to the Organization of American States (OAS) for more than ten years.