The Reagan imprint
Subtitle: ideas in American foreign policy from the collapse of communism to the war on terror
By: John Arquilla.
Publisher: Ivan R. Dee
Published: 2006
Place of publication: Chicago
Language: eng
Number of pages: 272
Subjects: Reagan, Ronald -- Influence.; United States -- Foreign relations -- 1981-1989.; United States -- Foreign relations -- 1989-
Description: Contrary to widely held views of Ronald Reagan as a reflexive man of action, John Arquilla's sharply revisionist study argues that he was drawn to and driven by ideas. In Mr. Arquilla's view, Reagan during his presidency articulated important new concepts that fundamentally reshaped American foreign policy. He saw the effort simply to contain Soviet expansion as too defensive in nature, so he replaced it with a doctrine designed to help others free themselves from totalitarian rule. He objected to the notion of mutual nuclear deterrence on practical and ethical grounds, a stand that led him to negotiate arms reductions as well as explore the possibility of missile defense. On these issues, as Mr. Arquilla shows, Reagan overturned a long-standing consensus of public and expert opinion, helping achieve a favorable end to the cold war and the arms race that came with it. Yet there were also areas in which Reagan s policies played out less successfullyhis inattention to the consequences of nuclear proliferation by smaller powers like Pakistan; his indecision in launching a preventive war against terrorism in the mid-1980swith consequences that continue to haunt us today.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references and index.
Table of contents: title: How to think about Ronald Reagan; title: The turn of the tide in the Cold War; title: The "controlled crash" of the Soviet Union; title: Confronting the perils of proliferation; title: Transforming the American military; title: The nuances of "information strategy"; title: The protracted struggle against terrorism; title: Ways of remembering Reagan.