Call for Papers

Call for Submissions – “Democracy & Society” Volume 7, Issue 1

We are seeking well-written, interesting submissions of 800-2000 words on the themes below, including summaries and/or excerpts of recently completed research, new publications, and work in progress. Submissions for the issue are due Friday, October 9, 2009.

Foreign Policy in the Obama Administration

In the first months of the Obama Administration, the President and his top foreign policy officials have attempted to outline their foreign policy priorities.  In Cairo, Egypt, President Obama made clear that closer relations between the US and Muslim countries was going to be a top concern, while in Accra, Ghana, he expressed a strong commitment to democracy in sub-Saharan Africa.  Speaking at the Council on Foreign Relations, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton recently claimed that foreign policy in the Obama Administration would be “based on common interests, shared values, and mutual respect.”

Nevertheless, events are challenging the ability of the administration to shape foreign policy according to these ideals.  Rising violence in Iraq, deteriorating security in Afghanistan, and instability in Iran are just a few of the unexpected challenges the new administration faces.  How should the Obama Administration react to these events?  Has the administration’s reactions to them been consistent with the ideals it has espoused?  Does the recent upsurge in violence in Iraq require the administration to review its policies toward that country?  Does the worsening security situation in Afghanistan suggest that the US and its allies need to increase the number of troops stationed there as the administration claims?  Alternatively, is the cost of the war beginning to outweigh the benefits of it as many foreign policy experts are beginning to assert?  Did the administration react wisely by not commenting extensively on the recent election crisis in Iran or did it send a message that the administration would not support beleaguered democratic reformers in that country?  Moreover, to what extent has the administration articulated a clear policy on other important issues, such as global financial reform, climate change, relations with key allies and other important countries such as China, and support for democracy?  Finally, the administration has still not yet nominated someone to fill the top position at the United States Agency for International Development.  How will it approach foreign aid?

This issue of Democracy and Society will examine the Obama Administration’s emerging foreign policy.  We are interested in articles that analyze the outlines of the policy objectives, the administration’s reaction to crises, and those that articulate exigent US foreign policy interests.  We welcome works in progress as well as summaries of work that have appeared or will appear in other publications.  Please email submissions (MS Word preferred) to editor@democracyandsociety.com. Endnotes preferred. Please include your name, department or organization, title, and contact information.

For additional information, please visit http://www.democracyandsociety.com or contact editor@democracyandsociety.com.