Publisher's Synopsis
Far too many westerners—and particularly Americans—are culturally ignorant and don't truly understand today's world. They know very little about Muslim-Arab countries, and they demonize and attack those they don't understand. World Politics and the American Quest for Super-Villains, Demons, and Bad Guys to Destroy introduces students to basic concepts in world politics. It addresses common misperceptions and their impact on foreign policy, and it explores forms of bureaucratic dysfunction in key American agencies. Readers will learn about the building blocks of world politics, transitions from authoritarianism to democracy, the Middle East conflict and its widespread impact, and the long-lasting consequences of war and occupation in Iraq. The text gives readers the conceptual tools they need to decide for themselves what they believe about vital and perplexing issues. Students can then use these concepts to examine and analyze U.S. foreign and military policy, and a variety of global security crises. Highly readable and accessible, World Politics and the American Quest for Super-Villains, Demons, and Bad Guys to Destroy is ideal for introductory courses in global politics.
