Engaging Adversaries: Peacemaking and Diplomacy in the Human Interest [Hardcover]

A refreshingly original, persuasive, mind-expanding, and timely study, this book is a must-read for all students of US foreign policy and international relations as well as for policy makers and an attentive public concerned about the shaping of a nonhegemonic global order.While engagement has been a topic of study within conflict resolution and internationalrelations, Mel Gurtov offers a fresh and original approach. His critique of realism and power politics for focusing on worst-case outcomes is both commonsensical and vitally important. Engagement is what powerful countries should use as a primary mode for resolving conflicts. Thoughtful, well written, and timely, this is an outstanding piece of work.In the human interestexactly what we need in the era of Trump and his escalating confrontation with the world.Mel Gurtovs peacemaking shows a clear way forward through the current fog of bigotry, jingoism, and violence.This groundbreaking book explores how adversaries in world politics can surmount their differences and disputes and start on the path to peaceful, productive relations. Gurtov draws lessons for diplomatic ways to engage, such as practicing mutual respect, paying attention to symbols, and using incentives rather than sanctions to find common ground.This groundbreaking book explores how adversaries in world politics can surmount their differences and disputes and start on the path to peaceful, mutually productive relations. Writing with authority and clarity, Mel Gurtov defines the strategy of deep engagement, examines how it progressed under President Obama with Cuba and Iran, and probes its potential for USRussian and USNorth Korean relations and other critical hotspots. At the core of the book are case studies that highlight the strategy and practice of engagement in both successful and failed efforts. Showing that domestic political obstacles turn out to be more formidable than strategic interests when national leaders seek to engage adversaries,lă•