Overview

For better or worse--be it militarily, politically, economically, technologically, or culturally--Americans have had a profound role in shaping the wider world beyond them. The United States has been a savior to some, a curse to others, but either way such views are often based on a caricature of American actions and intentions. American Foreign Relations, then, is a subject of immense global importance that provokes strong emotions and much debate, but often based on deep misunderstanding. This Very Short Introduction analyzes the key episodes, themes, and individuals in the history of American foreign relations. While discussing diplomacy and the periods of war that have shaped national and international history, it also addresses such topics as industrialization, globalization, imperialism, and immigration. Covering the Revolution through the War on Terror, it examines the connections between domestic politics and foreign affairs, as well as the importance of ideals and values. Sharply written and highly readable, American Foreign Relations offers a clear-eyed narrative of America's role in the world and how it has evolved over time.ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.

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9780199899395

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A superb writer and a terrific historian, Andrew Preston has given us a gem of a book, sparkling with clarity and insight. College students and general readers alike will find here both an engaging narrative and a compelling analysis of the US relationship with the rest of the world. There is no better brief overview than this supremely useful study. --Thomas ( Tim ) Borstelmann, author of The Cold War and the Color Line

Author Information

Andrew Preston is Professor of American History at Cambridge University. He is the author of Sword of the Spirit, Shield of Faith: Religion in American War and Diplomacy and The War Council: McGeorge Bundy, the NSC, and Vietnam.

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