This book provides an alternative theoretical approach to the study of ideology in U.S. foreign policy, emphasizing the importance of ideology in foreign relations. Unlike traditional approaches, which tend to neglect the variability of ideological influence, Chen's approach postulates a two-step causal relationship that explains changes in the strength of ideology and their influence on U.S. foreign policy. Changes in objective conditions cause changes in the strength of ideology, and these changes, in turn, create fluctuations in U.S. foreign policy.



Chen explores that causal relationship empirically through detailed case studies of U.S. China policy and also, in his concluding analysis, looks at ideology and recent U.S. policies toward Eastern Europe and the Middle East. This book will be of interest to teachers and students of international relations.