Culture and Foreign Policy

The Neglected Factor in International Relations

Howard J. Wiarda

• Publisher: Routledge
• Year: 2016
• Print ISBN: 9781409453291
• eBook ISBN: 9781317156031
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Politics & International Relations
• Subtopic: Politics
• Index: Politics & International Relations

Political culture refers to the basic values, ideas, beliefs and political orientations by which countries, societies, and whole regions are guided. The underlying belief systems that shape cultures and societies and cause them to behave in certain, often distinct ways. The puzzle or query that chiefly concerns this author is why the United States (US) and its foreign policy have such a hard time understanding cultures and societies other than their own. This provocative book argues that the US needs to end its attitudes of superiority and condescension toward other nations and cultures and redirect its foreign policy accordingly. After an introduction that sets forth the main theoretical and conceptual arguments, the next chapters explore all the main areas of the world. The Conclusion pulls all these themes together, analyzes the common patterns that emerge, and suggests new directions for U.S foreign policy.

Table of contents

• Cover Page
• Half-Title Page
• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• Table of Contents
• List of Tables
• Preface
• 1 Introduction: Culture and Foreign Policy
• 2 Europe: Ever Further Apart
• 3 Russia: Grappling with the Great Bear
• 4 Asia: The New Global Leader
• 5 The Middle East: The Role of Islam
• 6 Latin America: Western, Non-Western, What?
• 7 Africa: The “Dark” Continent
• 8 Conclusion
• Index