Research Catalog

Title

Bending history : Barack Obama's foreign policy / Martin S. Indyk, Kenneth G. Lieberthal, Michael E. O'Hanlon.

Author

Indyk, Martin.

Publication

Washington, D.C. : Brookings Institution Press, 2012.

Items in the Library & Off-site

Details

Additional Authors

• Lieberthal, Kenneth.
• O'Hanlon, Michael E.

Description

ix, 342 p.; 23 cm.

Summary

• "Examines first years of the Obama presidency and effects on American foreign policy, including the U.S. relationships with China and Pakistan, war in Afghanistan and withdrawal from Iraq, movement toward Middle East peace, response to the Arab Spring, agendas involving energy, climate, and weak states, and approaches to rogue states"--Provided by publisher.
• "How well has Barack Obama carried out his duties as U.S. commander-in-chief, top diplomat, and grand strategist? He has been unable to change the climate of Washington, and economic difficulties have dominated the first two years of his presidency. But his larger success or failure will likely hinge as much on foreign policy. In Bending History, a trio of renowned foreign policy experts illuminates the grand promise and the great contradictions of a new president who has captured the attention and imagination of citizens around the world unlike few of his White House predecessors. Conflicting caricatures of Obama miss the mark. The Right largely believes he is a naïve apologist trying to quash 'American exceptionalism,' or at best trying too hard to meet the demands of his Democratic Party. Conversely, while many on the Left still see him as a transformational political figure, the great antidote to George Bush's unilateralist militarism, others believe he is an accommodationist who lacks the nerve to end the excesses of Bush antiterror policies. Not surprisingly, Obama is substantially more complicated and nuanced than any of these images allows. Bending History argues that Obama thus far has, above all, been a foreign policy pragmatist, tackling one issue at a time in a thoughtful way. On balance he has been competent and solid, choosing reasonable policies (or least-worst options, at least) with an approach typified by thoroughness, reasonably good teamwork, and flexibility when needed. The seasoned authors aim to present the first serious book-length appraisal of Obama's foreign policy. They are Martin Indyk, a diplomat with great experience in the volatile region that has seen almost unimaginable political change in 2011 (the Middle East); Kenneth Lieberthal, an oft-quoted authority on the historic rise and political economy of China; and Michael O'Hanlon, an accomplished analyst of national security policy, particularly the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. With fairness and sophistication, the authors blend their own expertise with access to major military and diplomatic players at top levels of the administration. They find little strategic coherence in a foreign policy that is notable mostly for its individual initiatives rather than unifying themes, despite what the persona of Barack Obama himself represents symbolically and rhetorically"--Provided by publisher.

Series Statement

Brookings focus book

Uniform Title

Brookings focus books.

Alternative Title

Barack Obama's foreign policy

Subjects

• United States > Foreign relations > 2009-
• National security > United States
• United States > Social policy > 1993-
• United States > Economic policy > 2009-
• United States > Military policy
• Political leadership > United States > History > 21st century
• United States > Politics and government > 2009-
• Obama, Barack > Political and social views

Bibliography (note)

• Includes bibliographical references (p. 287-330) and index.

Contents

Introduction -- Emerging power : China -- War, counterterrorism, and homeland protection -- Middle East peacemaking -- The Arab awakenings -- The rogue states -- The "soft security" agenda : energy, climate, and weak states -- The arc of history is long.

Call Number

JFD 12-3901

ISBN

• 9780815721826 (hardcover : alk. paper)
• 081572182X (hardcover : alk. paper)

LCCN

2012001924

OCLC

729346525

Author

Indyk, Martin.

Title

Bending history : Barack Obama's foreign policy / Martin S. Indyk, Kenneth G. Lieberthal, Michael E. O'Hanlon.

Imprint

Washington, D.C. : Brookings Institution Press, 2012.

Series

Brookings focus book

Brookings focus books.

Bibliography

Includes bibliographical references (p. 287-330) and index.

Added Author

Lieberthal, Kenneth.

O'Hanlon, Michael E.

Research Call Number

JFD 12-3901