A unique blend of theory and policy-relevant case studies, this timely book offers a comprehensive, systematic, critical overview and analysis of the origins, tools and constraints of US policy in the Third World. Five themes serve as the guiding principles of the book: the over emphasis in US foreign policy on what has been called the globalist perspective; the desirability of greater emphasis on the regionalist perspective; the increasing nonviability of military force in achieving long-term US foreign policy objectives; the inability of the US to control Third World nationalsim; and the need for greater US tolerance of social change in the Third World. Discussions of US intervention in Grenada, Iran, Nicaragua, the Philippines and South Africa highlight past and current foreign policy, shortcomings and provide lessons for the future.