The same aspects of American government and society that propelled the United States to global primacy have also hampered its orderly and successful conduct of foreign policy. This paradox challenges U.S. leaders to overcome threats to America′s world power in the face of fast-moving global developments and political upheavals at home. The fully updated Fifth Edition of Steven W. Hook’s U.S. Foreign Policy: The Paradox of World Power explores this paradox, identifies its key sources and manifestations, and considers its future implications as it asks whether U.S. foreign policymakers can manage these dynamics in a manner that preserves U.S. primacy.

Steven W . Hook is professor of political science at Kent State University. In addition to this book, he is co-author of A merican Foreig n Policy Since World War II (CQ Press, 2013, 19th ed., with John Spanier) and author of National Interest and Foreig n A id (Lynne Rienner, 1995). His edited books include U.S. Foreig n Policy Today : A merican Renewal (CQ Press, 2012, with James M. Scott), the Routledg e Handbook of A merican Foreig n Policy (Routledge Press, 2012, with Christopher M. Jones), and Democratic Peace in Theory and Practice (Kent State University Press, 2010). His journal articles have appeared in World Politics, International Studies Quarterly , Asian Survey , Foreig n Policy A naly sis, International Interactions, and other leading journals. Professor Hook received a BA (1982) in Journalism and Political Science from the University of Michigan and an MA (1990) and PhD (1993) in International Studies from the University of South Carolina. At Kent State, he received the university’s Distinguished Teaching Award in 2007 and served as department chair from 2008 to 2012. He is a past president of the Foreign Policy Analysis sections of the American Political Science Association and the International Studies Association.