American Politics and International Organizations

Author: (USA) Leke
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2001-09-01
Features: For half a century, American foreign policy has had certain characteristics of Shakespearean historical plays. Those presidents, secretaries of state, and a few others have played important roles on the world stage, handling various crises, posing existential questions, and rallying public support for a large-scale expansion of international responsibilities. At the same time, farcical scenes have always been within reach—usually played by congressional members as clowns or rascals. Of course, during the hot war and the Cold War, as Prince Hal's "policy of expediency" often put our Falstaff aside, a united government was always ready to face serious challenges. Moreover, it goes without saying that the United States did indeed win the Cold War—though how it was won remains unknown.