Foreign Policy Reform
(On formulating & implementing a foreign policy that Americans can be proud of; see also American Empire, Militarization of Foreign Policy & US & the UN)
Basics
On the Web: Articles
A Global Good Neighbor Ethic for International Relations. Tom Barry, Salih Booker, Laura Carlsen, Marie Dennis & John Gershman. Foreign Policy in Focus (5/05).
The Ends of the World as We Know Them. Jared Diamond, NY Times (1/1/05) [Truthout].
The Disastrous Foreign Policies of the US. Bill Christison, Counterpunch (5/9/02). Former CIA analyst calls for end to war on terrorism, destruction of nuclear weapons by democratically elected international organization.
Terror & Empire, Robin Blackburn. Counterpunch (11/23/01). Analysis of presidency, US foreign policy post 9/11; what terror war is about; how just war on terror could be fought and won.
A New Agenda to Counter Terrorism, Foreign Policy in Focus (11/1/01). "War..is the least effective approach to combating terrorism, & should represent the last, rather than the first, resort."
On the Web: Specialized Sites
Center for International Policy. For a foreign policy based on cooperation, demilitarization & respect for human rights.
International Development Exchange (IDEX).
MADRE. International action on behalf of women's human rights.
National Center for Economic & Security Alternatives.
Peace Action (formerly SANE/Freeze). Ad campaign: Uncle Sam demands of citizens: "I want you to promote a foreign policy built on democratic values!"
Project Impact. "Compassionate capitalism" abroad in preventative health care field.
US-Cuba Sister Cities Association.
Volunteers in International Technical Assistance (VITA).
Washington Office on Latin America.
In the Library: Articles
Alterman, Eric. "Making US mean ‘us’," Nation (4/7/97):6-7. Present foreign policy contradicts basic American values.
__________. "Reading foreign policy: are those journals talking to us?" Nation (10/27/97). Introduction to US foreign-policy thinking through an analysis of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Policy, The National Interest & World Policy Journal. Consequences of continuing widespread disengagement of Americans from foreign policy issues will be grave.
Anuradha, Mittal. "Cancun: why it's good that trade talks broke down," Globe & Mail (9/16/03):?.
Byrne, Hugh. "U.S. support for dictatorships: Facing up to the past? Doing things differently in the future?" WOLA Cross Currents 1,2 (apr 1999).
Church, Sen. Frank. "It's time we learned to live with Third World revolutions," Journal of Third World Studies 3,2 (fall 1986).
Schwenninger, Sherle R. "Seeking a stable world," Nation (5/8/00):30-32.
__________. "America & the world: the end of easy dominance," Nation (11/20/00):19-24.
__________. "A world neglected: the foreign policy debate we should be having," Nation (10/18/04):13-19. Well-reasoned argument for a new approach.
Sweet, David G. "Repentance & reconciliation: the road to peace in Central America," in B. Larkin (ed.) Vital Interests: The Soviet Issue in US Central American Policy (Boulder: Lynne Reinner, 1988), pp. 451-69.
In the Library: Non-Fiction Books
Ahmed, Akbar & Brian Forst. After Terror (London: Polity, 2005). Bridges can be built rather than burned; a "clash of civilizations" is not the only option.
Anderson, Terry L. & Henry I. Miller (eds.) The Greening of US Foreign Policy (Stanford: Hoover Institution, 2000).
Barr, Stringfellow. Let's Join the Human Race (Chicago IL: U. of Chicago, 1950).
Benjamin, Medea & Andrea Freedman. Bridging the Global Gap. A Handbook to Linking Citizens of the First & Third Worlds (Cabin John MD, 1989).
Driedger, Leo. Mennonites in the Global Village (Toronto: U. Toronto, 2000).
Evans, Sarah M. (ed). Journeys that Opened Up the World: Women, Student Christian Movements, & Social Justice, 1955-1975 (Piscataway NJ: Rutgers, 2003).
Haugaard, Lisa (ed.) Better Neighbors: A Blueprint for Just US Relations with Latin America & the Caribbean (Washington: Latin American Working Grou, 1996).
Isaacs, Harold R. Two Thirds of the World: Problems of a New Approach to the Peoples of Asia, Africa & Latin America (Washington: Public Affairs Institute, 1950).
Jeffreys-Jones, Rhodri. Changing Differences: Women & the Shaping of American Foreign Policy, 1917-1994 (New Brunswick NJ: Rutgers, 1995).
Nelson-Pallmeyer, Jack. School of Assassins. The Case for Closing the School
of the Americas & for Fundamentally Changing U.S. Foreign Policy (Maryknoll,
1997).
Nielson, Jonathan M.(ed.) Paths Not Taken: Speculations on American Foreign Policy & Diplomatic History, Interests, Ideals, & Power (Westport CT: Praeger, 2000).
Pepinsky, Harold E. The Geometry of Violence & Democracy (Bloomington: Indiana U., 1991). The only path away from crime & violence is to replace them with democratic interaction.
Prestowitz, Clyde. Rogue Nation: American Unilateralism & the Failure of Good Intentions (NY: Basic Books, 2003). Brilliant, well-informed argument from a traditional conservative perspective that US foreign policy today is irresponsibly messianic & doctrinaire, & that it puts the future of our country in serious jeopardy. Proposes revitalization of UN, signing of Kyoto Protocol & all treaties against weapons proliferation, & thorough overhaul of policies towards Israel & Taiwan.
Retort. Afflicted Powers: Capital & Spectacle in a New Age of War (London: Verso, 2005).
Schmidt, Gail R. (ed.) The Meaning of America in a Global Context: An Ethnical Critique of US Foreign Policy (NY: Lutheran Church in America, 1973).
Swartley, Willard M. & Donald B. Kraybill (eds.) Building Communities of Compassion: Mennonite Mutual Aid in Theory & Practice (Scottdale PA, 1998).
Windmiller, Marshall. The Peace Corps & the Pax Americana (Washington, 1970).
In the Library: Fiction
In the Library: For Young Readers
In the Library: Poetry
In the Library: Drama
In the Library: Photography
CD & Audio
Film & Video
"What I've Learned About US Foreign Policy: The War Against the Third World" [2002], dir. Frank Dorrel, 120m.