Ideals, Interests, and U.S. Foreign Policy from George H. W. Bush to Donald Trump

This volume discusses the presidential foreign policies of the post-Cold War era, beginning with George H. W. Bush and ending with the first 17 months of Donald Trump's presidency. During this period, the United States emerged from the Cold War as the world's most powerful nation. Nevertheless, the presidents of this era faced a host of problems that tested their ability to successfully blend realism and idealism. Some were more successful than others. Ronald Powaski is Adjunct Professor at Ashland University, USA, formerly teaching U.S. history at Cleveland State University. Among his published books are March to Armageddon: The United States, the Soviet Union, and the Nuclear Arms Race, The Cold War: The United States and the Soviet Union, and most recently, a two-volume study, American Presidential Statecraft. Front Matter ....Pages i-xiv Prologue: Interests Versus Ideals (Ronald E. Powaski)....Pages 1-6 Introduction (Ronald E. Powaski)....Pages 7-11 The “Enlightened Realism” of George H. W. Bush, 1989–1993 (Ronald E. Powaski)....Pages 13-55 William Clinton: The Pragmatic Idealist, 1993–2001 (Ronald E. Powaski)....Pages 57-101 George W. Bush, Realism and Neoconservatism, 2001–2009 (Ronald E. Powaski)....Pages 103-156 Barack Obama, the Idealistic Realist, 2009–2017, Part I: The Middle East and East Asia (Ronald E. Powaski)....Pages 157-191 Barack Obama, the Idealistic Realist, 2009–2017, Part II: Europe, Latin America, Africa, and Global Problems (Ronald E. Powaski)....Pages 193-232 Donald Trump and “America First,” 2017– (Ronald E. Powaski)....Pages 233-273 Back Matter ....Pages 275-289 "This volume discusses the presidential foreign policies of the post-Cold War era, beginning with George H.W. Bush and ending with the first 17 months of Donald Trump's presidency. During this period, the United States emerged from the Cold War as the world's most powerful nation. Nevertheless, the presidents of this era faced a host of problems that tested their ability to successfully blend realism and idealism. Some were more successful than others."--Back cover