The Editor’s Page
Commentary
The Monroe Doctrine after 200 Years: A Strategic Hinge Period in American History by Thomas E. McNamara
The Battles of Bangui by June Carter Perry
Mission Strategic Plans: A Neglected Developmental Tool by Mark G. Wentling
The Role of U.S. Diplomacy in a Changing World by David Satterfield
Eyewitness
Doing More with Less, or a Stunt? by William Harrop
Secret Baseball in China by W. Robert Pearson
A Mongoose Walked into a Narcotics Den…. by Ed Marks
“La Grande Bouffe” or, Now and Then Diplomatic Life Does Include a Swanky Dinner Party by Jonathan Rickert
From Our Archives
Given the recent flurry of US/China diplomatic activity, we thought our readers might like to see some coverage of the subject in American Diplomacy, ranging from the 1990s to the current era.
US Relations with China: DACOR Conference Summary by Keith McCormick and Emma W. Sandifer, November 2022
The One China Policy: Terms of Art by Stanton Jue, April 2006
China’s Grand Strategy and US Foreign Policy by Avery Goldstein, Professor of Political Science, University of Pennsylvania, September 2005
ADST Moments in Diplomatic History
In the United States, elected officials make foreign policy and diplomats carry it out. Sometimes, policy conflicts with diplomats’ consciences. Here is one such case.
The US supports democratic elections to determine who leads a country. Sometimes, that process can bring to power someone we don’t like. This oral history excerpt covers one such election.
National Archives
Isaac Hayes Gets a B- 1976 In this extract, the State Department rates Isaac Hayes a B- performer in response to a question about him from its embassy in Khartoum. I’d have to rate the Department’s cable at no higher than D-.
Books of Interest
Book Review
Chip War: The fight for the world’s most critical technology by Chris Miller
Reviewed by Sean Coleman
Links
A hard-hitting critique of decades of U.S. foreign policy, culminating with Ukraine.
https://harpers.org/archive/2023/06/why-are-we-in-ukraine/
Several supporters of most aspects of US policy in Ukraine and one at least partial dissenter.
https://www.foreignaffairs.com/responses/should-america-push-ukraine-negotiate-russia-end-war
An update on Russia’s involvement in Africa, to be considered in conjunction with William Harrop’s Eyewitness story on that subject in this issue.