Kennan and the Art of Foreign Policy
Select Format
Select Condition 
Book Overview
From an array of intellectual reference points, Stephanson (history, Rutgers U.) has written a serious assessment of this complicated, often controversial, highly respected American policymaker. A work of general significance for a wide range of contemporary issues in foreign and domestic politics a
Format:Hardcover
Language:English
ISBN:0674502655
ISBN13:9780674502659
Release Date:April 1989
Publisher:Harvard University Press
Length:380 Pages
Weight:1.80 lbs.
Dimensions:1.4" x 6.4" x 9.6"
Customer Reviews
1 rating
Revisionist history at its best
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 19 years ago
I take issue with the above editorial review of Kennan and the Art of Foreign Policy. This is not an anti-Kennan polemic. Rather, two sentences into his Preface, Prof. Stephanson writes "he was a great analyst and policymaker, one of the very few this country has produced in foreign affairs, perhaps the finest since John Quincy Adams." I do agree that the book is theory-laden, but its an academic work, not a popular history. It is thoroughly researched, well-reasoned, and, as my title suggests, is quite good at making one question his or her assumptions. His analysis of Kennan's Long Telegram is quite good, and his criticisms of contradictory strains of Kennan's thinking is quite well-argued. His chapter "The Importance of Being Realistic" is perhaps the best I've read discussing Kennan's rather non-mainstream thoughts on American diplomacy. It is an important part of the literature on Kennan. If you want a more traditioanl take on his career, I would suggest reading, in addition to this book, Miscamble's Kennan and the Making of American Foreign Policy, or Mayer's Kennan and the Dilemmas of U.S. Foreign Policy.
Copyright © 2025 Thriftbooks.com
Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information | Cookie Policy | Cookie Preferences | Accessibility Statement
ThriftBooks ® and the ThriftBooks ® logo are registered trademarks of Thrift Books Global, LLC
ThriftBooks ® and the ThriftBooks ® logo are registered trademarks of Thrift Books Global, LLC
