Lanterna Rally

Author: Aiden Warren

Publisher:

Published: 2015-01-12

Total Pages: 224

ISBN-13: 9780415712682

This book comprehensively outlines and evaluates the key US Presidential Doctrines extending back to George Washington and concludes with the more recent doctrines of the Bush and Obama Administrations. With the term "doctrine" (re)attaining prominence in the in the early 21st Century and, more recently, in regard to the many contested debates surrounding the Obama's very own "set of guidelines," this book will argue that the doctrinal thrust in articulating the US' foreign policy direction via speeches, formal policy releases and since 1986—in attempting to formalise the process through the release of the National Security Strategies—has been very much apparent in most, if not all, US Administrations. Indeed, American foreign policy has long been caught between conflicting desires to influence world affairs yet at the same avoid getting entangled in the troublesome conflicts and rivalries of other nations. In essence, this book evaluates the key Presidential doctrines in explaining the current dilemmas facing the US as a continuation of "perennial foreign policy challenges," rather than a fundamental departure from issues the nation has faced previously. In linking these varied Presidential arteries to the defining Bush doctrine and the current and developing Obama doctrine, this book will navigate and assess the key Presidential doctrines encompassing both the individual and defining transitional themes, including: Washington's Farewell Address, the Monroe Doctrine, Manifest Destiny, the Open Door, Off-shore Balancer, Containment, Liberation, Interventionism, Engagement, Pre-emption/Prevention, and conclude with the "reluctant realist" doctrine of the Obama Administration. Positing new insights and greater linkages between the current context and past Administrations, this analytical review of key Presidential doctrines will reveal that while each was formulated and adopted by US leaders in reaction to immediate foreign policy concerns, each also addressed certain fundamental aspects of U.S. national security that led future statesmen to follow its broad policy objectives and prescriptions. Offering a comprehensive analysis of the past and present status of the US President doctrine, this volume will be of great interest to scholars and students of American foreign policy, American history, security studies and international relations.