America’s victory in the Cold War is a milestone in the nation’s diplomatic experience. The disintegration of the Soviet Union and the defeat of communism have made “containment” policy—the foundation of U.S. foreign relations for almost a half-century—obsolete, and policymakers and political scientists alike struggle to decide what new strategy should guide the country’s involvement on the international stage. In this pathbreaking work, Cecil V. Crabb,Jr., Leila E. Sarieddine, and Glenn J.Antizzo identify and analyze six distinct approaches to America’s diplomatic course after the Cold War, addressing perhaps the most important question of our time: what should U.S. foreign policy be in the twenty-first century? First, the authors examine the familiar doctrine of American isolationism and consider an alternative approach, conservative neo-isolationism, which encourages policymakers to use careful discrimination but decisive action in assuming commitments abroad. Liberal neo-isolationism, a third possible course, resists active interventionist strategies because of the dangers they pose to congressional power and America’s democratic system. At the opposite end of the spectrum are conservative interventionism, the belief that America must maintain a strong military arsenal and engage in “preventative diplomacy”; liberal interventionism—the conviction that America has a responsibility to actively promote the cause of democracy and defend human rights beyond its own borders; and pragmatic interventionism, an approach—taken by the Clinton Administration—that relies on a cost/benefit analysis of policy as problems arise. Elegantly written and authoritatively researched, Charting a New Diplomatic Course provides a much- needed frame of reference for anyone interested in America’s future in international affairs.

The basic logic of preventive diplomacy is unassailable. Act early to prevent disputes from escalating; reduce tensions that could lead to war; deal with today's conflicts before they become tomorrow's crises. Yet as we look at the record of these first years of the post-Cold War era, it is quite mixed. There have been some preventive diplomacy successes and opportunities that have been seized by major powers and international organizations to help preserve and protect the peace. But there also have been other opportunities that have been missed, with some of the century's most deadly conflicts the result. This study examines ten major post-Cold War cases including Croatia-Bosnia, Rwanda, the Baltics, Russia-Ukraine, Macedonia, and North Korea_to assess the key factors contributing to both the success and failure of preventive diplomacy. The method of case study analysis employed is based on the work of Alexander L. George. Authors include both leading academics and prominent policy officials with first-hand knowledge.

Written by diplomatic practitioners, Human Security and the New Diplomacy is a straightforward account of challenges already overcome and the prospect for further progress. From the evolution of peace-keeping, to peacebuilding, humanitarian intervention, war-affected children, international humanitarian law, the International Criminal Court, the economic agendas of conflict, transnational crime, and the emergence of connectivity and a global civil society, the authors offer new insights into the importance of considering these issues as part of a single agenda. Human Security and the New Diplomacy is a case-study of a major Canadian foreign policy initiative and a detailed account of the first phase of the human security agenda. The story of Canada's leading role in promoting a humanitarian approach to international relations, it will be of interest to foreign policy specialists and students alike. Contributors include David Angell, Alan Bones, Michael Bonser, Terry Cormier, Patricia Fortier, Bob Fowler, Elissa Goldberg, Mark Gwozdecky, Sam Hanson, Paul Heinbecker, Eric Hoskins, Don Hubert, David Lee, Dan Livermore, Jennifer Loten, Rob McRae, Valerie Ooterveld, Victor Rakmil, Darryl Robinson, Jill Sinclair, Michael Small, Ross Snyder, Carmen Sorger, and Roman Waschuk.