Towards Strategic Pragmatism in Foreign Policy : Cases of United States of America, China and Singapore

What is pragmatism? Is it a means to an end, or an end in itself? Is it antithetical to ideology or morality? Arguing that pragmatism is a skill much more than an attribute, Phua examines how viewing it in this way can help achieve better foreign policy outcomes. He examines and contrasts the ways in which the United States, China and Singapore have incorporated pragmatism into their approaches to foreign policy. In doing so he debunks dualistic myths around pragmatism and ideology and promotes the view of pragmatism as a skill that can be developed. An essential primer for students, analysts and policymakers, with a fresh and practical approach to pragmatism. Cover Half Title Series Title Copyright Contents Foreword List of tables List of acronyms 1 A pragmatic definition of pragmatism: problem-solving approach Part I What is pragmatism? 2 Fitness beats truth: towards a definition of pragmatism 3 Big-P and Small-P pragmatism, strategic pragmatism and grand strategy 4 Agential and structural factors of (pragmatic) production 5 Pragmatism in policy process framework 6 Varieties of pragmatism Part II China 7 The dao of pragmatism: going with the flow without being swept away 8 Seeking truth from facts 9 Red lines (and pink lines) in Chinese foreign policy Part III Singapore 10 The ideology of pragmatism 11 A friend to everybody and an ally to none 12 The geography of pragmatism Part IV The United States 13 The system (systemic pendulums) of pragmatism 14 Small-P and Big-P pragmatism on the election trail 15 How the emergent properties of the US system force unpragmatic actors to make pragmatic decisions Part V What have we Learnt? 16 Varieties of pragmatism: muddling through, in style 17 Strategic and systemic pragmatism through dynamic equilibria . . . Bibliography Interviews Questionnaires Index