American Foreign Relations: A History, Brief Edition, Volume 2, Since 1895

by Thomas G. Paterson, J. Garry Clifford, Shane J. Maddock

This best-selling text presents the best synthesis of current scholarship available to emphasize the theme of expansionism and its manifestations. The inclusion of recently declassified documents allows for new perspectives on American intervention in the Bolshevik Revolution, the origins of the Cold War and the Korean War, and the Cuban missile crisis. The Sixth Edition includes strong coverage of gender and culture and explores the racial dimensions of American expansionist ideology. Up-to-date coverage of national security and its implications allows students to examine the government's role in protecting citizens.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, International Relations, International Affairs, Read For School, Political Science, American

400 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 1977

About the author

Thomas Graham Paterson received his Bachelors degree from the University of New Hampshire in 1963, and his Masters and Doctoral degrees from the University of California at Berkeley in 1964 and 1968, respectively. Paterson is known primarily for his contributions to Cold War history with an emphasis on United States-Cuba relations, as well as the study of United States foreign relations in general.
A prolific author, Paterson has written and co-written numerous books and articles, and has also served as an editor for several books and scholarly journals, including Diplomatic History and the Encyclopedia of U.S. Foreign Relations (1997), for which he was a contributing editor. He has published several articles and book reviews in newspapers, magazines, and newsletters, as well as scholarly journals such as the Journal of American History, The New England Journal of History, Diplomatic History, the New England Quarterly, and the American Historical Review. He is a member of a multiple of historical and scholarly associations, including the American Historical Association, the Organization of American Historians, the New England Historical Association, and the Society for Historians of American Foreign Relations (SHAFR), the last of which he was president in 1987.
Paterson is the recipient of a number of fellowships and research grants. He has appeared on television and radio programs, and has delivered an impressive number of lectures throughout the United States, as well as Canada, China, Cuba, Venezuela, New Zealand, Great Britain, Colombia, and Russia. He taught both graduate and undergraduate level History courses at the University of Connecticut from 1967 through 1997. Aside from his teaching duties, Paterson was also a member of several different University and History Department committees. Paterson has been Professor Emeritus since his retirement from teaching at UConn in 1997.

Reviews

[Ashley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not bad for what amounts to a high school text book, but I sadly had to read it for a graduate course and it fell flat based on my expectations of graduate level material.

[Aisha Manus · Rating 3 out of 5]

To the point. Though sometimes it jumps around a bit. Good intro to the topic.

[David Radin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Two stars for detailed content on the topic at hand - thorough treatment of American Foreign policy with extensive details.

Missed any additional stars for unrelenting negative attitude towards the protagonist, the United States of America. Far too many unsupported, uncited, and unnecessary comments included only to disparage U.S. actors.

As an example, this uncited comment is offered in the initial description of President Reagan's presidency:
"Reagan was prone to exaggeration, factual inaccuracy, and right-wing sloganeering. He acted more on instinct than on patient reasoning. His staff, fearing ill-thought utterances, effectively stage-managed his public performances. Surrounded by specialists who tapped his natural talent, Reagan proved an effective communicator." This is followed by 8 pages of criticism of Reagan's character, staff choices, and foreign policy.

This is likewise the extent of the description regarding President Clinton's impeachment:
"Also plaguing the president in 1998–1999 were impeachment proceedings started by Congress after Clinton’s apparent perjury over a sex scandal."

[quotes from chapter 11 of text]


I used for a graduate course - recommend for selective reading as cover-to-cover is painful. Should be re-written and remove opinionated clutter.

[Patrick · Rating 4 out of 5]

College textbook which gives a good review of U.S. Foreign Policy in the 20th Century without being too Euro-centric. Other texts also get completely absorbed in the Vietnam War. This text still discusses U.S. policy in Africa, South America and other areas during the same time frame.

[Mallory Dale]

If Liam can do it I can do it too.