After one of the most controversial and divisive periods in the history of American foreign policy under President George W. Bush, the Obama administration was expected to make changes for the better in US relations with the wider world. Now, international problems confronting Obama appear more intractable, and there seems to be a marked continuity in policies between Obama and his predecessor.
Robert Singh argues that Obama's approach of 'strategic engagement' was appropriate for a new era of constrained internationalism, but it has yielded modest results. Obama's search for the pragmatic middle has cost him political support at home and abroad, whilst failing to make decisive gains. Singh suggests by calibrating his foreign policies to the emergence of a 'post-American'world, the president has yet to preside over a renaissance of US global leadership. Ironically, Obama's policies have instead hastened the arrival of a post-American world.

The Congressional Black Caucus has grown both in size and in prominence in its short lifetime. Robert Singh considers the actual impact of the CBC on public policy in this new volume for the Contemporary American Politics series. Singh argues that while the CBC forcefully articulates the concerns of African Americans, it has not only proven an ineffective interest lobby for their issues, but has become increasingly irrelevant as a labor union for its own members. Drawing on extensive data, The Congressional Black Caucus provides the first coherent and balanced overview of both the electoral and institutional forces, which together shape the CBCAEs fortunes. The Congressional Black Caucus will be of considerable interest to scholars and students in the areas of legislative process, race and politics, public policy, and political sociology.

The presidency of George W. Bush has been widely regarded as having occasioned one of the most dramatic shifts in the history of American foreign policy. The US interventions in Afghanistan and Iraq, the declaration of a 'war on terrorism' and the enunciation of a 'Bush Doctrine' of unrivalled military power, 'regime change' for 'rogue states', and preventive and pre-emptive war together generated unprecedented divisions in the international community. In this edited volume, leading international experts analyze the nature and scale of the global transformation wrought by the Bush foreign policy in three clear parts: part one examines the extent of the Bush administration's break with prior American foreign policy. in Part two, region and country-specific experts assess the responses to the Bush Doctrine and the interaction of domestic and international politics that shaped these. They explore how governments, political parties, the media and public opinion react to US foreign policy and assess the implications for domestic, regional and international politics. part three examines the likely long-term implications of the Bush Doctrine in relation to a set of major thematic issues including: war and peace; the global economy; human rights and the UN. Providing a balanced and dispassionate assessment of continuity and change in American foreign policy, national/regional responses to it, and the impact of US foreign policy on a set of 'big picture' discrete issues, this book is essential reading for scholars and researchers of international relations and contemporary history.

The presidency of George W. Bush has been widely regarded as having occasioned one of the most dramatic shifts in the history of American foreign policy. The US interventions in Afghanistan and Iraq, the declaration of a 'war on terrorism' and the enunciation of a 'Bush Doctrine' of unrivalled military power, 'regime change' for 'rogue states', and preventive and pre-emptive war together generated unprecedented divisions in the international community. In this edited volume, leading international experts analyze the nature and scale of the global transformation wrought by the Bush foreign policy in three clear parts: part one examines the extent of the Bush administration's break with prior American foreign policy. in Part two, region and country-specific experts assess the responses to the Bush Doctrine and the interaction of domestic and international politics that shaped these. They explore how governments, political parties, the media and public opinion react to US foreign policy and assess the implications for domestic, regional and international politics. part three examines the likely long-term implications of the Bush Doctrine in relation to a set of major thematic issues including: war and peace; the global economy; human rights and the UN. Providing a balanced and dispassionate assessment of continuity and change in American foreign policy, national/regional responses to it, and the impact of US foreign policy on a set of 'big picture' discrete issues, this book is essential reading for scholars and researchers of international relations and contemporary history.

An innovative edited textbook, designed for first-time students of American politics. This volume offers an accessible and comprehensive examination of American politics both before and after September 11.

Governing America covers the foundations of modern American politics, the structure of American governing institutions, domestic and foreign public policies and a series of contemporary controversies.

In one of the first volumes assessing the full two terms of the George W. Bush presidency, Wroe and Herbert have gathered the work of leading American and European scholars. In fifteen succinct and incisive chapters, authorities such as Jim Pfiffner, John Maltese, Graham Wilson and Alan Gitelson offer assessments of the Bush administration's successes and failures. Extensive attention is paid to Bush's foreign policy, including 'The War on Terror' but the focus is broadened to absorb not only the Bush Doctrine and its repercussions, but also his trade and homeland security policies. The president's domestic leadership in economics and social policy is investigated, as are his dealings as president with the other institutions of the U.S. political system. The result is a comprehensive guide to the Bush presidency and its legacy. Key Features *Chapters by leading authorities from both sides of the Atlantic *One of the first volumes to take into account the full span of the Bush presidency *Broad-ranging coverage of both domestic and foreign policy *Short, direct chapters providing incisive analysis of the administration's successes and failures

The Congressional Black Caucus has grown both in size and in prominence in its short lifetime. Robert Singh considers the actual impact of the CBC on public policy in this new volume for the Contemporary American Politics series. Singh argues that while the CBC forcefully articulates the concerns of African Americans, it has not only proven an ineffective interest lobby for their issues, but has become increasingly irrelevant as a labor union for its own members. Drawing on extensive data, The Congressional Black Caucus provides the first coherent and balanced overview of both the electoral and institutional forces, which together shape the CBCAEs fortunes. The Congressional Black Caucus will be of considerable interest to scholars and students in the areas of legislative process, race and politics, public policy, and political sociology.

In one of the first volumes assessing the full two terms of the George W. Bush presidency, Wroe and Herbert have gathered the work of leading American and European scholars. In fifteen succinct and incisive chapters, authorities such as Jim Pfiffner, John Maltese, Graham Wilson and Alan Gitelson offer assessments of the Bush administration's successes and failures. Extensive attention is paid to Bush's foreign policy, including 'The War on Terror' but the focus is broadened to absorb not only the Bush Doctrine and its repercussions, but also his trade and homeland security policies. The president's domestic leadership in economics and social policy is investigated, as are his dealings as president with the other institutions of the U.S. political system. The result is a comprehensive guide to the Bush presidency and its legacy. Key Features *Chapters by leading authorities from both sides of the Atlantic *One of the first volumes to take into account the full span of the Bush presidency *Broad-ranging coverage of both domestic and foreign policy *Short, direct chapters providing incisive analysis of the administration's successes and failures

After one of the most controversial and divisive periods in the history of American foreign policy under President George W. Bush, the Obama administration was expected to make changes for the better in US relations with the wider world. Now, international problems confronting Obama appear more intractable, and there seems to be a marked continuity in policies between Obama and his predecessor. Robert Singh argues that Obama's approach of 'strategic engagement' was appropriate for a new era of constrained internationalism, but it has yielded modest results. Obama's search for the pragmatic middle has cost him political support at home and abroad, whilst failing to make decisive gains. Singh suggests by calibrating his foreign policies to the emergence of a 'post-American'world, the president has yet to preside over a renaissance of US global leadership. Ironically, Obama's policies have instead hastened the arrival of a post-American world.