US Foreign Policy in the Post-Cold War Era : Restraint Versus Assertiveness From George H. W. Bush To Barack Obama

Why has the US proven unable to enact a foreign policy of restraint in the post-Cold War era? For all but a brief period in the 1990s, US foreign policy is marked by an assertive appearance despite relative hegemony. This book examines the causes and impact of US foreign policy - measuring its successes, pitfalls, and what the future has in store. As the dominant state in the post-Cold War era, strategists assumed the United States would practice a restrained foreign marked by sparing use of force, multilateral diplomacy, and a reduction of military commitments abroad. However, the United States chose precisely the opposite course-one marked by assertiveness, foreign intervention, and unilateral action. US Foreign Policy in the Post-Cold War Era argues that the reason for this lack of restraint originates from the United States' need to maintain prestige as an effective international leader in the face of recalcitrant and free-riding actors. Onea concludes that recommendations of restraint are not wrong, but rather unfeasible due to the constant need for securing US prestige in the eyes of the world As The Dominant State In The Post-cold War Era, Strategists Assumed The United States Would Practice A Restrained Foreign Marked By Sparing Use Of Force, Multilateral Diplomacy, And A Reduction Of Military Commitments Abroad. However, The United States Chose Precisely The Opposite Course--one Marked By Assertiveness, Foreign Intervention, And Unilateral Action. Us Foreign Policy In The Post-cold War Era Argues That The Reason For This Lack Of Restraint Originates From The United States' Need To Maintain Prestige As An Effective International Leader In The Face Of Recalcitrant And Free-riding Actors. Onea Concludes That Recommendations Of Restraint Are Not Wrong, But Rather Unfeasible Due To The Constant Need For Securing Us Prestige In The Eyes Of The World-- Machine Generated Contents Note: -- 1. Introduction -- 2. Us Prestige And Its Challengers -- 3. The Us Failed Experiment With Restraint -- 4. Prestige And Assertiveness In Kosovo -- 5. The Indispensable Nation And Us Unilateralism -- 6. The United States Supreme: The Invasion Of Iraq -- 7. The Future Of Us Foreign Policy: Reset Game -- 8. Conclusion. Tudor A. Onea. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. "As the dominant state in the post-Cold War era, strategists assumed the United States would practice a restrained foreign marked by sparing use of force, multilateral diplomacy, and a reduction of military commitments abroad. However, the United States chose precisely the opposite course--one marked by assertiveness, foreign intervention, and unilateral action. US Foreign Policy in the Post-Cold War Era argues that the reason for this lack of restraint originates from the United States' need to maintain prestige as an effective international leader in the face of recalcitrant and free-riding actors. Onea concludes that recommendations of restraint are not wrong, but rather unfeasible due to the constant need for securing US prestige in the eyes of the world"-- Provided by publisher