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Klappentext By the end of the 1990s! America's overseas critics had begun to describe the sole remaining superpower as! in the words of one writer! the "original rogue state." America's policies would not have surprised Niccolo Machiavelli. Machiavelli! in his Discourses on Livy! constructs a theory about the grand strategy of republics. This theory suggests that foreign entanglements are peculiarly dangerous to republican societies! and that republics can master these dangers by adopting long-term strategies of imperialism. This new book analyses Machiavelli's thoughts on these subjects! discusses contending interpretations of Machiavelli's work! and goes on to consider! throughout several chapters! the accuracy with which Machiavelli's theory explains the historical development of US grand strategy. Zusammenfassung This volume explores the reasons why American leaders from the 1700s onwards frequently adopt policies of unilateralism. Thomas M. Kane presents fresh explanations for America’s invasion of Iraq and defiance of international agreements, which go much deeper than conventional critiques of particular presidents to examine the real significance of the September 11 attacks. As the only and unprecedented sole superpower, the US faces a range of new and complex problems. Kane draws on the thinking of Machiavelli to illuminate and assess the key challenges for both the US and the global community. This unique book:connects contemporary US policy to patterns that reach back to America’s foundingexplores political dynamics affecting all republicscontributes to theoretical debates about the benevolence, or otherwise, of American democracyhighlights the key issues that Americans and non-Americans alike must address now and in the future.Theoretical Roots of US Foreign Policy will be of great interest to all students of US foreign policy, strategy and history and of international relations, politics and strategic studies in general....
