Explaining the History of American Foreign Relations

by Frank Costigliola (Editor), Michael Hogan (Editor)

A longtime classic in its first and second editions, Explaining the History of American Foreign Relations, 3rd edition presents substantially revised and new essays on traditional themes such as national security, corporatism, borderlands history, and international relations theory. The book also highlights such innovative conceptual approaches and analytical methods as computational analysis, symbolic borders, modernization and technopolitics, nationalism, non-state actors, domestic politics, exceptionalism, legal history, nation branding, gender, race, political economy, memory, psychology, emotions, and the senses. Each chapter is written by a highly respected scholar in the field, many of whom have risen to prominence since the second edition's publication. This collection is an indispensable volume for teachers and students in foreign relations history, international relations history, and political science. The essays are written in accessible, jargon-free prose, thus also making the book appropriate for general readers seeking an introduction to history and political science.

401 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 29, 2016

Reviews

[Stan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book provides an overview of a variety of approaches to understanding U.S. Foreign Relations. Several chapters were of great interest to me - most notably the chapter(s) dealing with U.S. borderlands during the era of expansion. Often U.S. expansion or imperialism is examined as though the world around the U.S. was static, unchanging, and without its own ambitions to expand or develop "empire." One or two chapters herein address the subject in a way that captures the ambitions of nations competing with the U.S. for territory. I found this to be a much more balanced and insightful approach.

[Meihan Liu · Rating 5 out of 5]

Noticing the fact that there are few identical articles in the second and third edition of this book gives you a sense that how rapid our time is developing.