The Politics of American Foreign Policy : How Ideology Divides Liberals and Conservatives Over Foreign Affairs

In this provocative book, Peter Gries directly challenges the widely held view that partisan elites on Capitol Hill are out of touch with a moderate American public. Dissecting a new national survey, Gries shows how ideology powerfully divides Main Street over both domestic and foreign policy and reveals how and why, with the exception of attitudes toward Israel, liberals consistently feel warmer toward foreign countries and international organizations, and desire friendlier policies toward them, than conservatives do. And because most Congressional districts have become hyper-partisan, many politicians today cater not to the "median voter" in their districts, but to the primary voters who elect them. The perverse incentives of the U.S. electoral system, therefore, are empowering the ideological extremes, contributing to elite partisanship over American foreign policy.__The Politics of American Foreign Policy__ weaves seamlessly together in-depth examinations of the psychological roots and foreign policy consequences of the liberal-conservative divide, the cultural, socio-racial, economic, and political dimensions of American ideology, and the moral values and foreign policy orientations that divide Democrats and Republicans. Within this context, the book explores in detail why American liberals and conservatives disagree over US policy relating to Latin America, Europe, the Middle East, East Asia, and international organizations such as the UN. In this provocative book, Peter Gries directly challenges the widely held view that partisan elites on Capitol Hill are out of touch with a moderate American public. Dissecting a new national survey, Gries shows how ideology powerfully divides Main Street over both domestic and foreign policy and reveals how and why, with the exception of attitudes toward Israel, liberals consistently feel warmer toward foreign countries and international organizations, and desire friendlier policies toward them, than conservatives do. And because most Congressional districts have become hyper-partisan, many politicians today cater not to the "median voter" in their districts, but to the primary voters who elect them. The perverse incentives of the U.S. electoral system, therefore, are empowering the ideological extremes, contributing to elite partisanship over American foreign policy. The Politics of American Foreign Policy weaves seamlessly together in-depth examinations of the psychological roots and foreign policy consequences of the liberal-conservative divide, the cultural, socio-racial, economic, and political dimensions of American ideology, and the moral values and foreign policy orientations that divide Democrats and Republicans. Within this context, the book explores in detail why American liberals and conservatives disagree over US policy relating to Latin America, Europe, the Middle East, East Asia, and international organizations such as the UN. Introduction: Ideology And American Foreign Policy -- I. Concepts -- Liberals, Conservatives, And Foreign Affairs -- Beyond Red And Blue: Four Dimensions Of American Ideology -- The Moral Foundations Of Ideology And International Attitudes -- The Foreign Policy Orientations Of Liberals And Conservatives: Internationalism, Realism/idealism, And Nationalism -- Partisan Elites And Global Attitudes: Ideology In Social Context -- Ii. Cases -- Latin America: Liberal And Conservative Moralities Of Immigration And Foreign Aid -- Europe: Socialist France, Mother England, Brother Germany, And The E.u. Antichrist -- The Middle East: Christian Zionism, The Israel Lobby, And The Holy Land -- East Asia: Red China, Free Asia, And The Yellow Peril -- International Organizations And Treaties: Blue Helmets, Black Helicopters, And Satanic Serpents -- Conclusion: Ideology -- Why Politics Does Not End At Water's Edge. Peter Hays Gries. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 307-323) And Index. 'The politics of American foreign policy' weaves seamlessly together in-depth examinations of the psychological roots and foreign policy consequences of the liberal-conservative divide, the cultural, socio-racial, economic, and political dimensions of American ideology, and the moral values and foreign policy orientations that divide Democrats and Republicans. Within this context, the book explores in detail why American liberals and conservatives disagree over US policy relating to Latin America, Europe, the Middle East, East Asia, and international organizations such as the UN.-- Provided by publisher