Power and Restraint: The Rise of the United States, 1898-1941 - Hardcover

Meiser, Jeffrey W.

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 162616178X ISBN 13: 9781626161788

Publisher: Georgetown University Press, 2015

Synopsis

American foreign policy between the late nineteenth century and the beginning of World War II is anomalous from the perspective of international relations (IR) theory. During this period, the US was a rising power par excellence, but it did relatively little to transform this new-found power into global influence. Despite the dramatic increase in its economic power, the US maintained its traditional distaste for European modes of diplomacy and imperialism, and it failed to capitalize on many opportunities to expand its political-military power. This behavior runs counter to most thinking in IR theory, which is that rising states tend to become revisionist powers seeking to expand their influence and challenge the existing order. Jeffrey Meiser concludes that American strategic restraint was caused by democratic domestic political institutions and norms. This work is important for understanding more about the history of America's international relations, and it is also important for understanding how regime type in today's rising powers, namely China and India, is likely to shape the character and impact of their ascent in the international system.

About this title

About the Author

Jeffrey W. Meiser is an assistant professor in the Department of Political Science at the University of Portland and an adjunct professor at the College of International Security Affairs at the National Defense University.

Edition details

• Publisher: Georgetown University Press
• Publication date: 2015
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 162616178X
• ISBN 13: 9781626161788
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 304