George F. Kennan and the Making of American Foreign Policy, 1947-1950

Rating:
Summary: A well-written, detailed appraisal of Kennan's work at PPS
Review: George F. Kennan is a man who seems to attract controversy like a lightning rod does lightning (a comparison Kennan whimsically applied to himself when dicussing the fallout of his Reith lectures in the second volume of his own superb memoirs). The historical debate over his conception of "containment" that began well over 20 years ago can finally be decisively settled by Wilson Miscamble's brilliantly researched and written "George F. Kennan and the Making of American Foreign Policy, 1947-1950". Although the terrain has been covered in previous volumes -- and done so well in many cases, Miscamble's book is the first to widen its scope away from a strict study of Kennan while still maintaining him as the focus. The literature that deals with Kennan exclusive of the context of his actions fails to show the very real constraints upon American policy, especially toward Germany and Europe in general. Yet, despite Kennan's limited freedom to manuever, he stands as one of the most influential career officials in the history of the State Department. Kennan was apolitical, yet he managed to assume a position in Truman's administration in which he literaly shaped many aspects of American foreign policy. Miscamble's book explains how this occurred and, in the process, not only delivers a valuable lesson to today's policy-makers in government but also (hopefully) settles a long-standing historical debate.

Rating:
Summary: A well-written, detailed appraisal of Kennan's work at PPS
Review: George F. Kennan is a man who seems to attract controversy like a lightning rod does lightning (a comparison Kennan whimsically applied to himself when dicussing the fallout of his Reith lectures in the second volume of his own superb memoirs). The historical debate over his conception of "containment" that began well over 20 years ago can finally be decisively settled by Wilson Miscamble's brilliantly researched and written "George F. Kennan and the Making of American Foreign Policy, 1947-1950". Although the terrain has been covered in previous volumes -- and done so well in many cases, Miscamble's book is the first to widen its scope away from a strict study of Kennan while still maintaining him as the focus. The literature that deals with Kennan exclusive of the context of his actions fails to show the very real constraints upon American policy, especially toward Germany and Europe in general. Yet, despite Kennan's limited freedom to manuever, he stands as one of the most influential career officials in the history of the State Department. Kennan was apolitical, yet he managed to assume a position in Truman's administration in which he literaly shaped many aspects of American foreign policy. Miscamble's book explains how this occurred and, in the process, not only delivers a valuable lesson to today's policy-makers in government but also (hopefully) settles a long-standing historical debate.