Rogue Diplomats: The Proud Tradition of Disobedience in American Foreign Policy

Many of America's most significant political, economic, territorial, and geostrategic accomplishments from 1776 to the present day came about because a U.S. diplomat disobeyed orders. Historians have neglected this pattern of insubordination, but Rogue Diplomats provides a provocative response to the question of whether there is a distinctively "American" foreign policy.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 407 pages
Publication date: 03 November 2022
Publisher: Cambridge University Press

From 1776 to the present day, a remarkable series of political, economic, territorial, and geostrategic achievements have been achieved by the United States. These accomplishments have been largely due to the disobedience of American diplomats who defied orders from their superiors.

At the close of the American Revolution, Britain granted the infant republic magnificent terms that laid the foundation for its growth and development. The acquisition of France's vast Louisiana territory in 1803, followed by the acquisition of an even vaster expanse of land from Mexico forty years later, were significant milestones in U.S. geopolitics. These events were made possible by the defiance of ambassadors, ministers, and envoys who refused to follow their superiors' instructions.

The preservation of the Anglo-American special relationship during World War I is another example of how rogue diplomats have influenced U.S. geopolitics. Despite the challenges and tensions of the war, the United States and Great Britain remained allies, thanks in part to the efforts of diplomats who refused to toe the line.

Historians have traditionally neglected this pattern of insubordination, focusing instead on the dominant narratives of American foreign policy. However, Rogue Diplomats makes a seminal contribution to scholarship on U.S. geopolitics by challenging the notion that there is a distinctively "American" foreign policy. The book argues that the United States has been shaped by a complex web of global forces, including imperialism, nationalism, and economic competition, and that its foreign policy has been shaped by a series of individual decisions made by diplomats who defied their superiors.

The book also provides a provocative response to the question of whether there is a distinctively "American" foreign policy. The authors argue that while the United States has played a significant role in shaping global politics, its foreign policy has been influenced by a wide range of factors, including the interests of other nations, the power dynamics of the international system, and the preferences of individual diplomats.

In conclusion, Rogue Diplomats is a groundbreaking book that provides a fresh perspective on U.S. geopolitics. By challenging the notion of a distinctively "American" foreign policy, the book offers a valuable contribution to scholarship on this important topic. The book's insights into the role of rogue diplomats in shaping U.S. history are sure to inspire further research and debate.

Weight: 618g
Dimension: 151 x 227 x 30 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781107438743