Smart Power: Toward a Prudent Foreign Policy for America
by By Carpenter, Ted Galen
Category: Political Science , International Relations , Diplomacy

Noting a remarkable record of belligerence in recent US history, Carpenter (defense and foreign policy studies, Cato Institute) argues that American foreign policy is beset by three major problems: an unwillingness to terminate or reconsider the security obligations build up during the Cold War, a casual extension of security commitments to new client states that are even less relevant than the traditional Cold War-era allies to American security needs, and an increased willingness to intervene militarily in murky and often internecine conflicts. This demonstrates to Carpenter that the US foreign policy elite is unable to either establish proper priorities or to develop an analytical framework for assessing strategic choices. He applies this perspective to a number of significant foreign policy issues, including the Iraq debacle; the "War on Terror;" threatened war against Iran; broader Middle East regional issues; policy towards the Koreas; Taiwan policy; the relationship with China; NATO, the Balkans, and relations with Russia; the "War on Drugs;" and the relationship between foreign policy and domestic liberty. Annotation ©2008 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)