Description: In The Four Ages of American Foreign Policy, the eminent authority on American foreign policy Michael Mandelbaum offers a new framework for understanding the history of the foreign policy of the United States. He divides that history into four distinct periods, each of them defined by the consistent increase in the power the country has had at its disposal in its relations with other countries.
Review Quotes: "Mandelbaum has written a masterful interpretation of the twists and turns of U.S. foreign policy, offering keen insights into U.S. politics and the nature of global affairs along the way. The book will take its place alongside other seminal studies of the history of U.S. statecraft." -- Charles A. Kupchan, Council on Foreign Relations, Georgetown University, Foreign Policy
"Mandelbaum [...] has written a book so lucid on a subject so sprawling that it could be read with profit by someone only mildly curious about America's foreign entanglements and yet also be a source of inspiration to anyone steeped in the arcana of world affairs." -- Tunku Varadarajan, Stanford University, Wall Street Journal"The Four Ages of American Foreign Policy provides a masterly conceptual framework for coming to grips with past U.S. foreign policy." -- Brian Stewart, Commentary"Michael Mandelbaum's new book is a masterpiece. I am often asked what is the best single book to read to understand the grand sweep and history of American foreign policy, and I will now say that it is this book. Mandelbaum uniquely combines the depth and knowledge of the best historians and the breadth and imagination of the best political scientists. His organizing paradigm of the great ascent of America through its four successive ages of increasing power--coming at the end of that ascent and at the beginning of a new age of diminished power--should be fundamental and invaluable to future scholars, policy analysts, and concerned citizens." -- James Kurth, Claude Smith Professor of Political Science Emeritus, Swarthmore College"The Four Ages of American Foreign Policy is a masterwork--a defining contribution to the most critical international debate of our time. It is essential for anyone concerned about world affairs. Mandelbäum's analysis contains unique perspectives and new insights for understanding America's role in today's turbulent era. A profound searchlight on the past and a guidepost for the future, it combines rare scholarship with lucid relevance. Vital for both general readers and professionals." -- Ralph Buultjens, Former Nehru Professor, University of Cambridge (UK); New York University"The Four Ages of American Foreign Policy is a sweeping account of America's place in the world. Elegantly written, it is an invaluable addition to the scholarship on the United States." -- Susan Eisenhower, author of How Ike Led, and President of the Eisenhower Group, Inc."In this accessible and readable account of the broad sweep of US foreign policy, Mandelbaum explores a paradoxical question: why, as American power has increased over the centuries, has the United States ultimately become less able to achieve its foreign policy goals? Sure to provoke spirited debate, his answers to this critical question will interest specialists and the general reader alike." -- Mary Elise Sarotte, author of Not One Inch"In this imaginative book, Michael Mandelbaum brings his formidable energy and talents to bear on the history of American foreign policy. An incisive volume well worth reading and pondering." -- David Hendrickson, Professor Emeritus of Political Science, Colorado College, and author of Republic in Peril"A magisterial history ... deeply insightful." --Starred review, Kirkus"Mandelbaum has written a masterful interpretation of the twists and turns of U.S. foreign policy, offering keen insights into U.S. politics and the nature of global affairs along the way."--Foreign Policy"Mandelbaum has written probably the best and the most comprehensive study ever published on American foreign policy. [...] a truly superb synthesis of both theory and history... With this magisterial volume, Mandelbaum's greatest contribution is the placement of many dramatic and significant historical and contemporary events within a theoretical and historical context. [...] The systematic analysis of such a long period in the history of American foreign policy yields new and compelling perspectives on events, peoples, and processes." -- Eytan Gilboa, Professor of International Relations and Communications, Bar-Ilan University