Politics and Strategy: Partisan Ambition and American Statecraft (Princeton Studies in International History and Politics, 130)

Why do some national leaders pursue ambitious grand strategies and adventuresome foreign policies while others do not? When do leaders boldly confront foreign threats and when are they less assertive? __Politics and Strategy__ shows that grand strategies are Janus-faced: their formulation has as much to do with a leader's ability to govern at home as it does with maintaining the nation's security abroad. Drawing on the American political experience, Peter Trubowitz reveals how variations in domestic party politics and international power have led presidents from George Washington to Barack Obama to pursue strategies that differ widely in international ambition and cost. He considers why some presidents overreach in foreign affairs while others fail to do enough. Trubowitz pushes the understanding of grand strategy beyond traditional approaches that stress only international forces or domestic interests. He provides insights into how past leaders responded to cross-pressures between geopolitics and party politics, and how similar issues continue to bedevil American statecraft today. He suggests that the trade-offs shaping American leaders' foreign policy choices are not unique--analogous trade-offs confront Chinese and Russian leaders as well. Combining innovative theory and historical analysis, __Politics and Strategy__ answers classic questions of statecraft and offers new ideas for thinking about grand strategies and the leaders who make them. Why Do Some National Leaders Pursue Ambitious Grand Strategies And Adventuresome Foreign Policies While Others Do Not? When Do Leaders Boldly Confront Foreign Threats And When Are They Less Assertive? Politics And Strategy Shows That Grand Strategies Are Janus-faced: Their Formulation Has As Much To Do With A Leader's Ability To Govern At Home As It Does With Maintaining The Nation's Security Abroad. Drawing On The American Political Experience, Peter Trubowitz Reveals How Variations In Domestic Party Politics And International Power Have Led Presidents From George Washington To Barack Obama To Pursue Strategies That Differ Widely In International Ambition And Cost. He Considers Why Some Presidents Overreach In Foreign Affairs While Others Fail To Do Enough. Trubowitz Pushes The Understanding Of Grand Strategy Beyond Traditional Approaches That Stress Only International Forces Or Domestic Interests. He Provides Insights Into How Past Leaders Responded To Cross-pressures Between Geopolitics And Party Politics, And How Similar Issues Continue To Bedevil American Statecraft Today. He Suggests That The Trade-offs Shaping American Leaders' Foreign Policy Choices Are Not Unique--analogous Trade-offs Confront Chinese And Russian Leaders As Well.--pub. Desc. 1. Statesmen, Partisans, And Geopolitics. The Two Faces Of Grand Strategy -- Statesmen As Strategic Politicians -- Grand Strategy Past And Present -- 2. Grand Strategy's Microfoundations. Variations In Grand Strategy -- A Model Of Executive Choice -- Determinants Of Grand Strategy -- Research Design And Outline -- 3. Why States Appease Their Foes. The Appeasement Puzzle -- George Washington And The Appeasement Of Britain -- Abraham Lincoln, Britain, And The Confederacy -- Franklin Roosevelt, Hitler, And Appeasement, 1936-1939 -- Appeasement Reconsidered -- 4. When States Expand. Theories Of Expansionism -- James Monroe, Republican Factionalism, And The Monroe Doctrine -- William Mckinley, Cuba, And The Threat Of Domestic Populism -- George W. Bush, September 11, And The Promise Of Party Realignment -- Expansionism : Necessity Or Choice? -- 5. Why States Underreach. Strategies Of Restraint -- Jacksonian Fissures And Martin Van Buren's Strategic Adjustment -- Herbert Hoover, Republican Sectarianism, And Strategic Retrenchment -- Bill Clinton, The Democrats, And Selective Engagement -- The Paradox Of Strategic Underextension -- 6. Statecraft's Twin Engines. American Balancing In Historical Perspective -- Geopolitics And Partisan Politics : Managing Cross-pressure -- Secondary Powers And Nondemocracies -- Barack Obama And Grand Strategy. Peter Trubowitz. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Drawing on the American political experience, this title reveals how variations in domestic party politics and international power have led presidents from George Washington to Barack Obama to pursue strategies that differ widely in international ambition and cost.