America and the Rogue States

America and the Rogue Statestraces and examines the policies and interactions of the United States with adversarial nations in the post-Cold War era. The book focuses on the key rogue statesNorth Korea, Iran, and pre-invasion Iraq. What are termed lesser rogue playersLibya, Syria, Cuba, Sudan and othersare also analyzed. The book sets rogue regimes in historical perspective but it makes clear the contemporary variant endangers international peace through the export of terrorism and the pursuit of nuclear arms. It chronicles and explains why Washington has relied on non-military options (and delves into the Iraq exception) in dealing with rogues while the U.S. militarily struck in a host of countries after the fall of the Soviet Union. Intra-rogue cooperation is described, along with the role some rogues are playing in the Sino-American rivalry. The work concludes with a review and assessment of current polices for dealing with rogue states.

Thomas H. Henriksen is a Senior Fellow at Stanford University's Hoover Institution. He is also a Trustee of the George C. Marshall Foundation. Dr. Henriksen specializes in US foreign policy, defense issues, and counterinsurgency. He has authored or edited fourteen book, most recently America Power after the Berlin Wall. He is Palgrave Macmillans series editor for its new series, American Foreign Policy in the 21st Century.

"Professor Henriksen has written a superb book, arguably the most complete work we have on the challenges to American's security posed by rogue regimes. With North Korea, Iran and Syria before us, this book could not have been timelier. A rare mix of history and policy, shrewd judgments, thoughtful, and graceful writing into the bargain." - Fouad Ajami, 2006 National Humanities Medal recipient and author of The Dream Palace and The Foreigner's Gift


"In these cogent snapshots of key rogue states, Henriksen documents two alarming facts: rogue states act not because of what the United States does, but for reasons of their own, and because of Iraq the United States is unlikely to take effective action against these countries. These facts shape an increasingly dangerous future." - Henry Nau, professor of Political Science and International Affairs, the Elliott School of International Affairs at George Washington University.


"A thorough historical treatment of the rise of rogue states and the reaction to them by the United States and others with a special focus on the last two decades. Professor Henriksen's book provides interesting insights into the motivations and objectives of players as different as Cuba and North Korea, Iran and Sudan. Recommended for those wanting to have a deeper knowledge of the rise and in some cases fall of these states—a phenomenon which keeps leaders around the world preoccupied, irritated and attentive." - Thomas R. Pickering, Former Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs.