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American Diplomacy: A Handbook Apr 07, 2007
By K.B.B.
Like other reviewers, I found this volume to be a gem of a reference book. For each of the six periods between the years 1776 (the entries actually go back to 1686) and 2000, it provides a wealth of information that would be useful to anyone with an interest in U.S. foreign policy. Editor Sweeney obviously has done a lot of serious research in order to construct this handbook.
Sweeney's 2-page overviews are succinct and enlightening. Chronologies for each chapter list not only the traditional treaties and diplomatic incidents but also significant political and professional appointments that impacted foreign policy. Sections on "treaties, agreements, Supreme Court decisions, and acts of Congress" provide brief, very informative entries--the number of items covered for the period 1960-2000 alone exceeds 80. Annotated bibliographies in each section provide useful short summaries of dozens of key books, grouped by major themes. For instance, the chapter on 1866-1914 includes six different sub-headings, making it quick and easy to identify important writings on topics such as "Foreign Policy in the Americas" or "Empire and Race." The most pleasant surprise I discovered occurs in the biographical sketches, which focus not on the "usual suspects" but on individuals whose life histories are not automatically familiar to a U.S. audience. I don't need to know who George Washington is, for instance, but I do need some background on Great Britain's Viscount Palmerston and Iran's Mohammed Mossadegh. Sweeney provides that background.
All in all, I think this is an intriguing book, either to peruse casually or to have at hand as a reference tool. My copy is already pretty well thumbed!
Useful reference book by Jerry Sweeney Feb 22, 2007
By David Ulbrich
Professor Jerry Sweeney has compiled an outstanding reference work on American diplomatic history. This slim volume is made up of six chronological chapters, each of which contains an insightful introduction, a chronology of events, biographical sketches, an annotated bibliography of important books, and brief summaries of treaties, agreements, Congressional acts, and Supreme Court decisions. At the end of his book, Sweeney provides a glossary of diplomatic terms. His glossary includes thumbnail definitions of such common diplomatic terms as armistice, self-determination, modus vivendi, treaty, and ultimatum. Sweeney also clarifies the differences between boycotts and embargoes, de jure and de facto governments, and accords and protocols.
Sweeney's running commentary does not bore the reader, as so many bland reference works do. He willingly passes judgment on the United States' diplomatic past in engaging prose. One may quibble with some of his interpretations but not with his style. For example, Sweeney writes in his chapter introduction to "Confrontation and Accommodation, 1961-2000" that "Jimmy Carter viewed himself as president of a nation that was one among equals. However, the American people were uncomfortable with the idea of equality. They yearned for the days when the United States was Gulliver to a Lilliputian family of nations. President Carter sought to transcend such a nationalistic and combative posture, but a fractious world and the dictates of presidential politics brought the noble experiment to a close. President Ronald Reagan, therefore, proposed to steer the ship of state in new directions. Unfortunately, the Republic soon discovered that no good deed goes unpunished, and the road to a warm place is paved with good intentions. Moreover, although individuals affect the course of history, the outcome is problematical and the cure is often worse than the disease" (160). Layering the chronologies, biographies, and annotations over these comments makes Sweeney's book that much more valuable and enjoyable. Although he possesses strong opinions, he gives each source, biography, treaty, or event attentive treatment.
Sweeney's AMERICAN DIPLOMACY: A HANDBOOK, 1776-2000 is an ideal reference book for scholars, teachers, students, and librarians of American diplomatic history.
American Diplomacy Handbook Dec 20, 2006
By James E. Glinski
I am a Social Studies Department chair at a private college prep high school. When I received a copy of this book I passed it around to my colleagues in the department and received nothing but favorable comments.
Although it is not really a book we would assign to students in our courses, it is an invaluable reference for teachers and students alike.
It is very a very thorough collection of the major events and people who have been involved in the foreign affairs of our nation. It is very well organized and convenient to reference, especially because it is chronologically organized. I am definately planning to purchase one for our department and also for our school library.
American Diplomacy: A Handbook, 1776-2000 Dec 01, 2006
By William J. Woolley
This is a neat handbook that would be an indispensible supplement and reference for any college course dealing with American diplomatic history and for American history sections in libraries. History buffs--like me--and people seriously interested in America's international relations will also find this book helpful. It contains not only an exhaustive list of treaties, agreements, and events but also brief descriptions of important events and biographies of central figures, American and foreign, in our diplomacy. Finally, each section contains a selective annotated bibliography to guide any search for further information.
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