Isolationism reconfigured : American foreign policy for a new century / Eric A. Nordlinger.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Nordlinger, Eric A.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Isolationism--United States.

Isolationism.

United States--Foreign relations--1989-.

United States.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (346 p.)

Edition:

Course Book

Place of Publication:

Princeton, N.J. : Princeton University Press, c1995.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

This iconoclastic and fundamental work, Eric Nordlinger's last, advocates a new variant of isolationism, a "national strategy" confining U.S. military actions largely to North America and to neighboring sea-and air- lanes but encouraging international activism and engagement in nonsecurity realms. In Nordlinger's view, disengaging from security commitments on distant shores would liberate the United States to use its resources and decision-making powers to act more effectively abroad in matters of economic policy and human rights. A national strategy would then become a powerful new method of encouraging international ideals of democracy, and isolationism would be freed of its previous associations with appeasement, weakness, economic protectionism, and self-serving nationalism. Nordlinger draws on the recent historical record to show that a national strategy would have lessened the perils of earlier decades, including those of the Cold War. While real dangers did exist during this period, engaged strategies, such as containment, too often exacerbated them. The United States could have effectively and far less expensively helped to deter Communist aggression in Europe and Asia by encouraging other nations to make larger investments in their own protection. Marshaling impressive empirical evidence in defense of a controversial position, this final work by a leading scholar of international affairs is essential reading for scholars, practitioners, and lay readers alike.

Contents:

Frontmatter

Contents

Foreword and Acknowledgments

CHAPTER I. Introduction

PART ONE: America's Security

Chapter II. A NATIONAL STRATEGY: CONTEMPORARY CONTOURS AND THE HISTORICAL RECORD

Chapter III. AMERICA'S STRATEGIC IMMUNITY

Chapter IV. TAILORING POLICIES TO INTENTIONS: PROBLEMATICS AND HAZARDS

Chapter V. MAXIMIZING DETERRENCE, DEFENSE, AND ECONOMIC SECURITY

Chapter VI. MAXIMIZING CONCILIATION: REASSURING THE CHALLENGER

Chapter VII. MINIMIZING STRATEGIC MISMANAGEMENT: AVOIDING INADVERTENT SECURITY DEFLATIONS

PART TWO: Beyond the Security Realm

Chapter VIII. AMERICA'S INTERNATIONAL IDEALS

Chapter IX. THE NATIONAL WELFARE

Chapter X. LIBERAL, CONSTITUTIONAL, AND LEGAL IDEALS

Chapter XI. AN AMERICAN FOREIGN POLICY

NOTES

Index

Notes:

Description based upon print version of record.

Includes bibliographical references (p. [279]-318) and index.

ISBN:

9786612752315

9781400805747

1400805740

9781400805730

1400805732

9781282752313

1282752316

9781400812813

140081281X

9781400821815

1400821819

OCLC:

700688658