The Maximalist Tradition: Understanding America's Diplomatic Style

As Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice embarks on a European tour, many are hoping she will revive a more pragmatic and multilateral foreign policy approach. However, her own experience and the record of her predecessors suggest otherwise. The first Bush administration, under which Dr. Rice served, pursued a maximalist approach to diplomacy, prioritizing American goals over consensus-building and respectful give-and-take. This style of diplomacy was characterized by a single-minded focus on achieving optimal goals, even if they seemed politically infeasible.

Key Takeaways:

• The first Bush administration opposed European views on German unification, ignored their concerns, and got its way despite giving them little in return. (Source: "Germany Unified and Europe Transformed" by Condoleezza Rice)
• American policymakers believed that their allies were shortsighted and confused, and not tough-minded enough to achieve lasting success on a large scale. (Source: Memoirs of Margaret Thatcher, Mikhail Gorbachev, and Francois Mitterrand)
• The Bush administration's approach to diplomacy was marked by a disregard for the views of other nations, with decisions often made with little warning or consultation. (Source: Memoirs of George H.W. Bush)
• The record of the post-cold-war era suggests that American maximalism has had success, with the emergence of a stable and unified Europe. (Source: Various sources, including those cited above)

Statistics:

• 1989: The Berlin Wall fell, and European leaders opposed the idea of German unity. (Source: Article)
• 1990: The "two plus four" framework, which ostensibly gave all four World War II victors a role in shaping a deal on German unification, was established. (Source: Article)
• 1991: Germany was unified, with American policymakers believing that they had successfully imposed their will on their allies. (Source: Memoirs of George H.W. Bush)
• 1992-1995: The Balkans saw the emergence of genocide, which was met with a policy of containment by the Clinton administration. (Source: Article)
• 1996: Madeleine Albright coined the phrase "indispensable nation," suggesting that the United States saw itself as having a unique and exceptional role in global affairs. (Source: Article)

Sources:

• "Germany Unified and Europe Transformed" by Condoleezza Rice
• Memoirs of Margaret Thatcher
• Memoirs of Mikhail Gorbachev
• Memoirs of Francois Mitterrand
• Memoirs of George H.W. Bush