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Colin Powell and Condoleezza Rice: Foreign Policy, Race, and the New American Century
Lusane has created a groundbreaking analysis of the intersection of racial politics and American foreign policy. This insightful work critically examines the roles played by former Secretary of State Colin Powell and current Secretary of State (and former National Security Advisor) Condoleezza Rice in the construction of U.S. foreign policy, exploring the ways in which their racial identity challenges conventional notions about the role of race in international relations.
Neither Powell nor Rice consciously allowed their racial identity to substantially influence or characterize their participation in the defense and projection of U.S. hegemony, Lusane argues, but both used their racial identity and experiences strategically in key circumstances to defend Bush administration policies. This is but one sense in which their race, despite their reluctance to be seen as racial figures, is significant in relation to U.S. foreign policy.
Locating Powell and Rice within the genealogy of the current national security strategy, and within broader shifts under George W. Bush, this work argues that their racial location in the context of the construction of U.S. foreign policy is symbolic, and that it serves to distract from the substantive part they play in the ongoing reconfiguration of U.S. global power. Criticism of Powell's and Rice's policies, for example, is often blunted by race. Black liberals may be reluctant to condemn them, while white liberals may be afraid criticism could be interpreted as racial bias, especially since conservatives of both races argue that such criticism is probably racist. Lusane tackles these difficult issues along with others, asking whether there is a black consensus on foreign policy and, if so, what its dimensions, driving forces, and prospects for stability are. How can a progressive alternative to the current U.S. foreign policy be realized? Are Powell and Rice merely functionaries, or did they substantially determine the direction of U.S. foreign policy? What will their legacies be?
Neither Powell nor Rice consciously allowed their racial identity to substantially influence or characterize their participation in the defense and projection of U.S. hegemony, Lusane argues, but both used their racial identity and experiences strategically in key circumstances to defend Bush administration policies. This is but one sense in which their race, despite their reluctance to be seen as racial figures, is significant in relation to U.S. foreign policy.
Locating Powell and Rice within the genealogy of the current national security strategy, and within broader shifts under George W. Bush, this work argues that their racial location in the context of the construction of U.S. foreign policy is symbolic, and that it serves to distract from the substantive part they play in the ongoing reconfiguration of U.S. global power. Criticism of Powell's and Rice's policies, for example, is often blunted by race. Black liberals may be reluctant to condemn them, while white liberals may be afraid criticism could be interpreted as racial bias, especially since conservatives of both races argue that such criticism is probably racist. Lusane tackles these difficult issues along with others, asking whether there is a black consensus on foreign policy and, if so, what its dimensions, driving forces, and prospects for stability are. How can a progressive alternative to the current U.S. foreign policy be realized? Are Powell and Rice merely functionaries, or did they substantially determine the direction of U.S. foreign policy? What will their legacies be?
- GenresSocial Justice
288 pages, Hardcover
First published May 30, 2006
24 people want to read
About the author
Clarence Lusane
15 books17 followersDr. Clarence Lusane is an African-American author, activist, lecturer and free-lance journalist. His most recent major work has been the publication of his book 'The Black History of the White House.'
For more than 30 years, Lusane has written about and been active in national and international anti-racism politics, globalization, U.S. foreign policy, human rights and social issues such as education and drug policy.
Dr. Lusane is the former editor of the journal Black Political Agenda, and has edited newsletters for a number of national non-profit organizations. He is a national columnist for the Black Voices syndicated news network, and his writings have appeared in The Black Scholar, Race and Class, Washington Post, Oakland Tribune, Covert Action Information Bulletin, Z Magazine, Radical History Journal and many other publications.
Lusane is the former Chairman of the Board of the National Alliance of Third World Journalists. As a journalist, he has traveled to numerous countries to investigate the political and social circumstances or crises faced by those nations. Various nations that he has reported on include Cuba, Egypt, Mexico, Jamaica, the Netherlands, North Korea, Italy, and South Africa.
Presently, Dr. Lusane is an Associate Professor of Political Science at American University School of International Service, where he teaches courses in comparative race relations, modern social movements, comparative politics of Africa, the Caribbean and Europe, black political theory and political behavior, international drug politics, and jazz and international relations. Dr. Lusane has lectured at numerous universities nation-wide, including Harvard, Georgetown, George Washington University, University of California-Berkeley, University of Chicago and Yale, among others. He has also lectured on U.S. race relations in numerous foreign nations, including Colombia, Cuba, England, France, Germany, Guadeloupe, Haiti, Japan, the Netherlands, Panama, Switzerland, and Zimbabwe.
Professor Lusane's current research interests are in international race politics, human rights, and electoral politics. He is currently conducting research on the intersection of jazz and international relations. This work examines how jazz has been politically and ideologically appropriated by a wide range of social groups in the international community
For more than 30 years, Lusane has written about and been active in national and international anti-racism politics, globalization, U.S. foreign policy, human rights and social issues such as education and drug policy.
Dr. Lusane is the former editor of the journal Black Political Agenda, and has edited newsletters for a number of national non-profit organizations. He is a national columnist for the Black Voices syndicated news network, and his writings have appeared in The Black Scholar, Race and Class, Washington Post, Oakland Tribune, Covert Action Information Bulletin, Z Magazine, Radical History Journal and many other publications.
Lusane is the former Chairman of the Board of the National Alliance of Third World Journalists. As a journalist, he has traveled to numerous countries to investigate the political and social circumstances or crises faced by those nations. Various nations that he has reported on include Cuba, Egypt, Mexico, Jamaica, the Netherlands, North Korea, Italy, and South Africa.
Presently, Dr. Lusane is an Associate Professor of Political Science at American University School of International Service, where he teaches courses in comparative race relations, modern social movements, comparative politics of Africa, the Caribbean and Europe, black political theory and political behavior, international drug politics, and jazz and international relations. Dr. Lusane has lectured at numerous universities nation-wide, including Harvard, Georgetown, George Washington University, University of California-Berkeley, University of Chicago and Yale, among others. He has also lectured on U.S. race relations in numerous foreign nations, including Colombia, Cuba, England, France, Germany, Guadeloupe, Haiti, Japan, the Netherlands, Panama, Switzerland, and Zimbabwe.
Professor Lusane's current research interests are in international race politics, human rights, and electoral politics. He is currently conducting research on the intersection of jazz and international relations. This work examines how jazz has been politically and ideologically appropriated by a wide range of social groups in the international community
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
December 24, 2008
The only reason I did not give this book the five stars it could have earned was mostly because of the grammatical errors that were contained within the text.
While the main premise of the book was not groundbreaking; i.e. (both Powell and Dr. Rice may have used their racial identities to help push through the W.B. foreign policy agenda) it also addressed a larger question that is often overlooked. Namely, how is that two individuals who had so much respect within America could help foster a war with spotty proof and continue to justify it even though it was quite evident the justifications articulated by the Bush administration did not exist? ((I know, it is a loonnggg question)...
Nervertheless, regardless of how one views both Powell and Dr. Rice, one thing that cannot be denied is that they both paved the way for future black political thinkers and intellectuals to obtain positions of power that were long denied them in this country.
Although it is relatively clear that, the author of this book is far-left leaning (a fact that he does not attempt to conceal), he does a magnificent job of telling an important narrative – a narrative of how it is possible for those who come from humble beginnings to excel and reach positions of power in this country. Although he does convey this message in not so flattering terms and with language that is well; quite critical of Dr. Rice, Mr. Powell, and others in the Bush administration.
While the main premise of the book was not groundbreaking; i.e. (both Powell and Dr. Rice may have used their racial identities to help push through the W.B. foreign policy agenda) it also addressed a larger question that is often overlooked. Namely, how is that two individuals who had so much respect within America could help foster a war with spotty proof and continue to justify it even though it was quite evident the justifications articulated by the Bush administration did not exist? ((I know, it is a loonnggg question)...
Nervertheless, regardless of how one views both Powell and Dr. Rice, one thing that cannot be denied is that they both paved the way for future black political thinkers and intellectuals to obtain positions of power that were long denied them in this country.
Although it is relatively clear that, the author of this book is far-left leaning (a fact that he does not attempt to conceal), he does a magnificent job of telling an important narrative – a narrative of how it is possible for those who come from humble beginnings to excel and reach positions of power in this country. Although he does convey this message in not so flattering terms and with language that is well; quite critical of Dr. Rice, Mr. Powell, and others in the Bush administration.
April 13, 2008
Gives a great bunch of info about how race plays into foreign policy, and I learned a great deal about the history of Condi and Colin.
At times, it felt that the only thing holding this book together was race. I definately agreed with the political tone in the book (left-progressive), but i felt the the organization of information was a bit simplistic-i.e only focusing on race.
At times, it felt that the only thing holding this book together was race. I definately agreed with the political tone in the book (left-progressive), but i felt the the organization of information was a bit simplistic-i.e only focusing on race.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews