Sailing the Water's Edge: The Domestic Politics of American Foreign Policy

The upcoming presidential election has no doubt contributed to this mood, as candidates and their advisors spar over the best direction for future American engagement with the world. Should the nation adopt a more “realist” posture, eschewing any international actions not in direct support of America’s material interests? Should it withdraw from the Middle East and “pivot” to Asia? Should the United States rely more on diplomatic tools in its foreign policy, recalibrating the relative power of the state and defense departments? Should foreign aid programs be eliminated as worthless or even perverse, or does expanding American generosity hold the key to the future stability of developing nations? Should “high” politics take a back seat to emerging transnational problems such as climate change and terrorism? Is it finally time to abandon America’s postwar internationalist consensus?