Hard Line (ebook)

Argumento de Hard Line (ebook)

"This book is a welcome addition to the literature on American foreign policy in general and on Republican foreign policy in particular. . . . Colin Dueck has succeeded in debunking certain inaccurate, though commonly held, perceptions of Republican foreign policy."--Francis D. Raska, European Legacy

"Hard Line provides a solid overview of Republican foreign policy since World War II. Its author synthesizes numerous well-known sources into a readable narrative."--Sarah Mergel, Journal of American Studies

"In Hard Line, a masterful account of the evolution of Republican foreign policy over the last 70 years, Colin Dueck identifies several historical factions within the Republican party: the isolationists, who are heirs to Sen. Robert Taft; the realists, who continue the approach best-identified with the presidency of Richard Nixon; and the hawks and nationalists, who acquired greater prominence in the Reagan years and were best-represented in the administration of George W. Bush."--Nikolas K. Gvosdev, World Politics Review

"Hard Line is an impressive account of the history of Republican and conservative foreign policy thinking over the past 60 years."--Tom Switzer, American Review

"Dueck has written a book that combines solid scholarship with an explicitly political message. . . . [A] thoughtful, well-informed, nuanced, and highly readable analysis."--Choice

"Colin Dueck's superbly written history of Republican American presidents since the end of World War II is a fine introduction to American conservatism and American presidential politics alike. . . . Dueck brilliantly conflates the recent history of political thought, the emergence of new and powerful lobbies, party and domestic politics, and public diplomacy with the performance of Republican presidents."--Dustin Dehez, Journal of Global Analysis

"[W]hat a remarkable job of historical synthesis this work embodies. I have hurriedly added large sections of it to my class in the politics of US foreign policy and am sure many other teachers will do likewise."--Timothy J. Lynch, H-Diplo ISSF Roundtable Reviews

"Those wishing to learn more about how Republicans view the world and America's place in it should read Hard Line. Clear, balanced and comprehensive, the book provides an interesting perspective on how Republicans develop and implement their foreign policy vision. . . . Hard Line is an impressive book."--John Shaw, Washington Diplomat

"Hard Line is an incisive and balanced examination of Republican foreign policy over the past six decades and a persuasive argument on behalf of adherence to a prudent conservative realism as the cornerstone of future US foreign policy in a dangerous world."--Mackubin Thomas Owens, Journal of Strategic Studies

"Colin Dueck's thorough analysis of the foreign-policy views of Republican political leaders since World War II has two aspects. As history, it is informative, objective, and broadly useful. . . . He presents a careful, detailed policy analysis of Republican presidents starting with Eisenhower, and includes leaders like Goldwater and Taft who significantly shaped party thinking even without the Oval Office. . . . [A]s we enter another presidential season, it is worth remembering Dueck's central insight about the importance of presidential discretion in shaping foreign policy."--John Bolton, former U.S. representative to the United Nations, National Review

"A lucid, provocative, deeply learned account of contemporary Republican foreign policy from one of America's best young diplomatic historians. If today's conservatives want to move beyond the foreign-policy failures of the Bush era, they should start by reading Dueck's book."--Peter Beinart, author of The Good Fight: Why Liberals--and Only Liberals--Can Win the War on Terror and Make America Great Again

"Colin Dueck notes that foreign policy is made by presidents, not intellectuals, and he is right. But his smart, lively new book shows what intellectuals can add to the discussion: sharp, honest analysis that uncovers the reality behind the rhetoric. Hard Line is more than a masterful guide to Republican thinking and practice over the last century--it is a major contribution to the literature on American foreign policy in general."--Gideon Rose, managing editor of Foreign Affairs

"Dueck has written a clear, persuasive, and important study of Republican foreign policy. Neither an apologist nor a reflexive critic, he examines the various strands that exist within what he describes as a 'hawkish nationalist' bent. He knows that ideas are one thing, implementation and the cut and thrust of policy quite another. A major contribution to our understanding of the last six decades of American foreign policy--and, one suspects, several more to come."--Eliot A. Cohen, Johns Hopkins University

"This book provides an excellent overview of the changes in conservative thinking on foreign policy by looking at the leading figures in each successive era, from Robert Taft to George W. Bush. The prose flows beautifully, and Dueck is admirably objective in his assessments of these individuals. An extremely valuable study."--James M. Goldgeier, George Washington University

"An engaging, important, and timely study, Hard Line offers the best coverage of this period of Republican foreign policy I have seen. Through meticulous research, Dueck demonstrates the coherence and diversity of a uniquely conservative view of international affairs just at the moment when the Republican Party is reexamining and debating its foreign policy agenda for the future."--Henry R. Nau, George Washington University0Acknowledgments vii
Introduction Conservative Traditions in U.S. Foreign Policy 1
Chapter One: Republicans, Conservatives, and U.S. Foreign Policy 11
Chapter Two: Robert Taft
The Conservative as Anti- Interventionist 39
Chapter Three: Dwight Eisenhower
The Conservative as Balancer 85
Chapter Four: Barry Goldwater
The Conservative as Hawk 117
Chapter Five: Richard Nixon and Henry Kissinger
Realists as Conservatives 142
Chapter Six: Ronald Reagan
The Idealist as Hawk 187
Chapter Seven: George H. W. Bush
The Conservative as Realist 232
Chapter Eight: George W. Bush
The Nationalist as Interventionist 265
Conclusion: Republicans and U.S. Foreign Policy in the Age of Obama 290
Notes 323
Index 359