Decision-Making in American Foreign Policy - Paperback

Decision-Making in American Foreign Policy: A Practical Textbook for National Security Professionals

This foreign policy analysis textbook is written specifically for students studying to become national security professionals. It translates academic knowledge about the complex influences on American foreign policymaking into an intuitive, cohesive, and practical set of analytic tools.

Practical Application Over Theory

The focus here is not theory for the sake of theory, but rather to translate theory into practice. Classic paradigms are adapted to fit the changing realities of the contemporary national security environment. The growing centrality of the White House is examined through the 'palace politics' of the president's inner circle, while the growth of the national security apparatus introduces new dimensions to organizational processes and subordinate levels of bureaucratic politics.

Real-World Case Studies

Real-world case studies are used throughout to allow students to apply theory. These comprise recent events that draw impartially across partisan lines and encompass a variety of diplomatic, military, and economic and trade issues. This approach enables students to understand how decision-making frameworks operate in actual foreign policy scenarios.

Expert Authors from the Naval War College

The textbook is authored by three distinguished professors from the United States Naval War College. Nikolas K. Gvosdev holds the Jerome E. Levy Chair in Economic Geography and National Security and is the former Editor of The National Interest policy journal. He is a Rhodes Scholar with a D.Phil. from the University of Oxford and has authored numerous scholarly and policy books on US and Russian foreign policy.

Jessica D. Blankshain is an Assistant Professor of National Security Affairs who teaches courses on foreign policy analysis, decision making, and civil-military relations. She holds a Ph.D. in Political Economy and Government from Harvard University.

David A. Cooper is the James V. Forrestal Professor of National Security Affairs and former Chair of the Department of National Security Affairs. He previously served for nearly two decades as a career US Defense Department official, including as a member of the Senior Executive Service, holding important positions in the Office of the Secretary of Defense and at US Africa Command. He holds a Ph.D. in Political Science and International Relations from The Australian National University.

Ideal for Graduate and Professional Studies

This Cambridge University Press publication is designed for graduate students, policy professionals, and anyone seeking to understand the complexities of American foreign policy decision-making through a practical, application-focused lens.