Belligerents, Brinkmanship, and the Big Stick: The History of the Terms of American Diplomacy

The United States is often portrayed as a country that gradually, even at times grudgingly, entered the realm of international diplomacy. But in fact, diplomatic alliances have been an essential component of the American story from the very beginning, when the young nation used its connections to bolster its revolutionary efforts, patch together a country out of a variety of foreign territories, and protect itself from its enemies.

Belligerents, Brinkmanship, and the Big Stick: A Historical Encyclopedia of American Diplomatic Concepts is the first comprehensive encyclopedic work to focus specifically on America's extraordinary history of political engagement with the world. With hundreds of alphabetically organized entries and a rich collection of primary sources, it offers a unique way of understanding the centrality of diplomacy and the role of foreign relations throughout U.S. history.

The encyclopedia is divided into five chronological sections, each containing a brief introduction, topical entries, biographical portraits, and representative documents. It is designed to help readers gain a deeper understanding of both general ideas as well as specific policies like the Monroe Doctrine, the Open Door Policy, and Shuttle Diplomacy. By examining seminal events, important ideas, and individual contributions in the context of U.S. history, the encyclopedia reveals the underlying traditions and motivations of American foreign policy as it has evolved over time.