Multilateralism Matters: The Theory and Praxis of an Institutional Form
Multilateralism-seeking cooperative approaches to international problems-has emerged as a key theme of the foreign policy of the Clinton administration. This book makes clear that the basic concept has been in existence for some time. Ruggie has long been a leading student of international institutions. The authors enter into a variety of theoretical debates that make an important academic contribution but will be of less interest to practitioners. A sequel might pay more attention to ad hoc arrangements for dealing with particular problems or issues. Especially in the security realm in the coming years, multilateral "coalitions of the willing" may be the best way to engage in preventive diplomacy and peacekeeping.
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Moscow with a Soviet hangover tests the patience even of those who most wish to engage it. As Chechnya festers, privatization lags, and the world contemplates the possibility of a communist president in the Kremlin dreaming of empire, some ridicule the notion of partnership. Russian chauvinists paint America as the enemy, but the interests of the two countries after the Cold War are compatible. The West should focus its attention--and Russia's--on common interests like nonproliferation of nuclear weapons, regional peace, and full participati0n in the world economy. America should deal rationally with irrationalities in a nation finding its way.
Bill Clinton is the first U.S. president since Andrew Johnson to support the Irish strongly against Great Britain--in this case, over Northern Ireland. Born of competition for Irish-American votes, the policy has some declaring the end of the Anglo-American "special relationship."
Wayne Smith got it partly right. Fidel Castro may lead Cuba to democracy and capitalism, but the key to further opening is a strong U.S. embargo.

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