Conservative Internationalism: Armed Diplomacy Under Jefferson, Polk, Truman, And Reagan
by Henry R. Nau /
2013 / English / PDF
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Debates about U.S. foreign policy have revolved around three main
traditions--liberal internationalism, realism, and nationalism.
In this book, distinguished political scientist Henry Nau delves
deeply into a fourth, overlooked foreign policy tradition that he
calls "conservative internationalism." This approach spreads
freedom, like liberal internationalism; arms diplomacy, like
realism; and preserves national sovereignty, like nationalism. It
targets a world of limited government or independent "sister
republics," not a world of great power concerts or centralized
international institutions.
Debates about U.S. foreign policy have revolved around three main
traditions--liberal internationalism, realism, and nationalism.
In this book, distinguished political scientist Henry Nau delves
deeply into a fourth, overlooked foreign policy tradition that he
calls "conservative internationalism." This approach spreads
freedom, like liberal internationalism; arms diplomacy, like
realism; and preserves national sovereignty, like nationalism. It
targets a world of limited government or independent "sister
republics," not a world of great power concerts or centralized
international institutions.
Nau explores conservative internationalism in the foreign
policies of Thomas Jefferson, James Polk, Harry Truman, and
Ronald Reagan. These presidents did more than any others to
expand the arc of freedom using a deft combination of force,
diplomacy, and compromise. Since Reagan, presidents have swung
back and forth among the main traditions, overreaching under Bush
and now retrenching under Obama. Nau demonstrates that
conservative internationalism offers an alternative way. It
pursues freedom but not everywhere, prioritizing situations that
border on existing free countries--Turkey, for example, rather
than Iraq. It uses lesser force early to influence negotiations
rather than greater force later after negotiations fail. And it
reaches timely compromises to cash in military leverage and
sustain public support.
Nau explores conservative internationalism in the foreign
policies of Thomas Jefferson, James Polk, Harry Truman, and
Ronald Reagan. These presidents did more than any others to
expand the arc of freedom using a deft combination of force,
diplomacy, and compromise. Since Reagan, presidents have swung
back and forth among the main traditions, overreaching under Bush
and now retrenching under Obama. Nau demonstrates that
conservative internationalism offers an alternative way. It
pursues freedom but not everywhere, prioritizing situations that
border on existing free countries--Turkey, for example, rather
than Iraq. It uses lesser force early to influence negotiations
rather than greater force later after negotiations fail. And it
reaches timely compromises to cash in military leverage and
sustain public support.
A groundbreaking revival of a neglected foreign policy tradition,
A groundbreaking revival of a neglected foreign policy tradition,Conservative Internationalism
Conservative Internationalism shows how the United States
can effectively sustain global leadership while respecting the
constraints of public will and material resources.
shows how the United States
can effectively sustain global leadership while respecting the
constraints of public will and material resources.