Overview

In an era of ever-increasing polarization in the US Congress, American foreign policy remains marked by frequent bipartisanship. In Bipartisanship and US Foreign Policy, Jordan Tama shows that, even as polarization in American politics reaches new heights, Democrats and Republicans in Washington continue to cooperate on important international issues. Looking closely at congressional voting patterns and recent debates over military action, economic sanctions, international trade, and foreign policy spending, Tama reveals that bipartisanship remains surprisingly common when US elected officials turn their attention overseas. Yet bipartisanship today rarely involves complete unity. Instead, bipartisan coalitions spanning members of both parties often coexist with intra-party divisions or disagreement between Congress and the president, making it difficult for the United States to speak with one voice on the global stage. Drawing on new data and interviews of more than 100 foreign policy practitioners, this book documents the persistence of bipartisanship on international issues and highlights key factors that facilitate or impede cooperation on foreign policy challenges.

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9780197745670

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Reviews

"Polarization has certainly undermined partisan comity but Jordan Tama's careful and illuminating research demonstrates that Democrats and Republicans in Congress still vote together on foreign policy issues surprisingly often. Tama's explanation for the persistence of bipartisanship is a major contribution to research on the politics of foreign policy."" Benjamin O. Fordham, Professor, Department of Political Science, Binghamton University Despite unprecedented levels of partisan polarization, Jordan Tama argues bipartisanship remains surprisingly common in foreign affairs. However, not all bipartisanship involves legislators from both sides of the aisle backing presidential policies. Rather, Tama critically shows how cross-partisan and bipartisan coalitions frequently push back against the president with considerable effect."" Douglas L. Kriner, Clinton Rossiter Professor in American Institutions, Department of Government, Cornell University Working across party lines is essential to protect national security and advance democracy around the world. Jordan Tama lays out the hurdles and pathways for cooperation, success, and good outcomes in a carefully examined approach to policymaking that is an essential read for effective legislating and diplomacy."" Russ Feingold, Former U.S. Senator from Wisconsin and Former Member of the Senate Foreign Relations and Intelligence Committees Most studies of Congress and foreign policy give a gloomy prognosis for our polarized era. This book offers hope. Tama shows that bipartisanship on foreign policy is alive and comes in more forms than previously recognized. An essential read on the politics of foreign policy."" Elizabeth N. Saunders, Georgetown University Bipartisanship in a Polarized Age is an important and timely book. It is carefully researched and builds strong theoretical and empirical arguments to show that bipartisanship in foreign policy is far more common than one would suspect. In a time of deep political divisions, this book is a powerful and unique testament to how bipartisanship can and does function in American foreign policy."" Jon C. W. Pevehouse, Vilas Distinguished Achievement Professor of Political Science, University of Wisconsin-Madison"

Polarization has certainly undermined partisan comity but Jordan Tama's careful and illuminating research demonstrates that Democrats and Republicans in Congress still vote together on foreign policy issues surprisingly often. Tama's explanation for the persistence of bipartisanship is a major contribution to research on the politics of foreign policy. * Benjamin O. Fordham, Professor, Department of Political Science, Binghamton University * Despite unprecedented levels of partisan polarization, Jordan Tama argues bipartisanship remains surprisingly common in foreign affairs. However, not all bipartisanship involves legislators from both sides of the aisle backing presidential policies. Rather, Tama critically shows how cross-partisan and bipartisan coalitions frequently push back against the president with considerable effect. * Douglas L. Kriner, Clinton Rossiter Professor in American Institutions, Department of Government, Cornell University * Working across party lines is essential to protect national security and advance democracy around the world. Jordan Tama lays out the hurdles and pathways for cooperation, success, and good outcomes in a carefully examined approach to policymaking that is an essential read for effective legislating and diplomacy. * Russ Feingold, Former U.S. Senator from Wisconsin and Former Member of the Senate Foreign Relations and Intelligence Committees * Most studies of Congress and foreign policy give a gloomy prognosis for our polarized era. This book offers hope. Tama shows that bipartisanship on foreign policy is alive and comes in more forms than previously recognized. An essential read on the politics of foreign policy. * Elizabeth N. Saunders, Associate Professor and Director of Montara Center for International Studies, Georgetown University * Bipartisanship in a Polarized Age is an important and timely book. It is carefully researched and builds strong theoretical and empirical arguments to show that bipartisanship in foreign policy is far more common than one would suspect. In a time of deep political divisions, this book is a powerful and unique testament to how bipartisanship can and does function in American foreign policy. * Jon Pevehouse, Vilas Distinguished Professor of Political Science and Public Affairs, University of Wisconsin *

Author Information

Jordan Tama is Provost Associate Professor at the School of International Service at American University, Non-Resident Senior Fellow at the Chicago Council on Global Affairs, and Co-Director of Bridging the Gap. His research examines the politics, institutions, and tools of US foreign policy. His publications include four books and many journal articles, policy reports, and articles in major newspapers and magazines. Tama has served as a senior aide in the US House of Representatives, a foreign policy speechwriter, and a presidential campaign advisor.

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