| The book is part of the American History in Depth | | | | a period full of crisis. Reagan's policies are discussed |
| series. The author is John Dumbrell and the general | | | | after Carter's. First his decision to increase defense |
| editor of the series is A. J. Badger. The book is | | | | expenditure is stated and the fact that he believed |
| published in Hong Kong, 1997, by McMillan Publications. | | | | that America must develop a "high-tech shield that |
| It is in paperback (ISBN: 0-333-61094-6), and it is also | | | | would protect it from nuclear threats. Then his |
| available in hardcover (ISBN: 0-333-61093-8); with | | | | doctrine is presented:" American sponsorship to all |
| papers suitable for recycling. No picture, table or | | | | enemies of communism in the developing countries". |
| graph can be seen in this book; except the | | | | That's why he involved America in the Lebanese |
| photograph on the front cover that shows | | | | crisis so that it would not become a communist state. |
| presidents Carter and Clinton together. As we can | | | | He also used human right as "an anti-soviet weapon". |
| see in the Bibliographical Note, the author used | | | | Another important thing about him that is analyzed in |
| secondary sources as well as some primary articles in | | | | this book is his "shadow policy of "winning back Iran" |
| form of printed articles. | | | | that finally led to Iran-contra scandal. The Reagan- |
| The book focuses on the America foreign policy in | | | | Gorbachev dialogue is one of the other things |
| the mid-20th century (from Carter's to Clinton's | | | | discussed in this book. Then the book focuses on |
| presidency) that was marked with the "struggle | | | | Bush's presidency claiming that his policies mainly |
| between liberal democratic capitalism and Soviet | | | | reflected that of Reagan's except his policies toward |
| state socialism". As it is stated in the introduction, the | | | | the soviet that were more cautious than Reagan's. It |
| book discusses four major themes: | | | | is explained that how he faced a dilemma in the |
| 1) ending of the Cold War, | | | | second gulf war. He wanted to oppress Iraq that had |
| 2) the legacy of Vietnam War | | | | invaded Kuwait and at the same time to keep Iraq |
| 3) American decline, and | | | | as threat to Iran. Clinton is the last president that the |
| 4) the possibilities of the democratic foreign policy | | | | book speaks of. It says that like Cater, Clinton |
| after 1977. | | | | emphasized domestic issues over foreign policy. He |
| It examines the "long tradition of American optimism" | | | | tried to "close the book on Vietnam, by promoting |
| saying that despite apparent victories, American | | | | the cause of US trade and investment. His military |
| optimism was under pressure during 1980s; the great | | | | program is also mentioned stating that he belied that |
| pressure and damage coming from America's defeat | | | | its cost and size should be reduced. |
| in Vietnam War which as carter put it made | | | | The book is a good source of information for those |
| Americans understand that they are "no better than | | | | who want to study the Cold war period and the |
| other people". Throughout the book, it is shown how | | | | effects of Vietnam war over American policies in the |
| attitudes and decisions in American foreign policy | | | | same era, especially undergraduate students who |
| were under the influence of the Vietnam legacy, with | | | | want a general information about the this period. For |
| special focus on the four presidents of the era, | | | | those who want a detailed description of the |
| Carter, Reagan, Bush and Clinton. The author tries to | | | | American foreign policy in the post-Cold war era, the |
| put the information together in an impartial way, | | | | book is not suitable because it does not go into |
| criticizing or approving of the events carefully. | | | | details of the events and developments, giving only |
| About Carter it is said that he believed that the cold | | | | an overall picture. However in the End Notes for each |
| war period had ended and that it was time to pursue | | | | chapter, one can find useful sources, books and |
| "domestic processes". His other goal was to put | | | | articles that can guide him or her to further |
| commitment to human rights at the center of his | | | | information about the topics discussed in chapters. In |
| foreign policy. But he never reached it because in | | | | the Bibliographical Note also, the author suggests that: |
| some cases human rights were ignored because | | | | "much of the important secondary literature on |
| security issues were more important. In his time in | | | | recent US foreign policy may be found in specialist |
| the office, 2 revolutions took place that were not | | | | journals, notably Foreign Affairs, Foreign Policy, |
| favorable to US, one in Iran and the other in | | | | International Security and International Affairs. |
| Nicaragua. These events made Carter's presidency as | | | | |