Includes bibliographical references and index.

The American approach to foreign policy -- Part I: The Cold War. From World War to Cold War ; Containment : from theory to practice ; North-South tensions and the Vietnam War ; D�etente and world-order politics ; Breakthroughs in the superpower struggle ; The end of the Cold War -- Part II: The new world "disorder". Old tensions in a new order ; The shifting European landscape ; America under fire ; Hot wars in Afghanistan and Iraq ; Aftershocks of the Arab Spring ; The revival of power politics ; The end of the American century? -- Appendix A: U.S. administrations since World War II -- Appendix B: Chronology of significant events, 1945-2017 -- Appendix C: Select bibliography -- Appendix D: Select websites -- Appendix E: Select blogs on American foreign policy.

"This book provides you with an understanding of America's current challenges by exploring its historical experience as the world's predominant power since World War II. Through this process of historical reflection and insight, you become better equipped to place the current problems of the nation's foreign policy agenda into modern policy context. With each new edition, authors Steven W. Hook and John Spanier find that new developments in foreign policy conform to their overarching theme - there is an American 'style' of foreign policy imbued with a distinct sense of national exceptionalism. This Twenty-First Edition continues to explore America's unique national style with chapters that address the aftershocks of the Arab Spring and the revival of power politics. Additionally, an entirely new chapter devoted to the current administration discusses the implications of a changing American policy under the Trump presidency" --back cover.