The process critique
I have a new Slate essay on criticisms of the Bush administration’s management of foreign policy. Go check it out. [Hmmm… this sounds familiar–ed. Yes, this is a theme I’ve touched on a fair amount in the past few months — click here for one example.] On research, I’m much obliged to Joe Katzman for ...
I have a new Slate essay on criticisms of the Bush administration's management of foreign policy. Go check it out. [Hmmm... this sounds familiar--ed. Yes, this is a theme I've touched on a fair amount in the past few months -- click here for one example.] On research, I'm much obliged to Joe Katzman for the U.S. News and World Report link and to Virginia Postrel for the Newt Gingrich link. Three caveats that don't appear in the actual Slate essay, but are worth mentioning. First, although the process critique is coming primarily from the right, they don't have a monopoly on the story -- Josh Marshall has been hammering this point home for some time now -- click here for an example. Second, although I think the process critique is a powerful one, Democrats are unlikely to use this line of attack. Why? Process is boring. “Policy Coordination Needed” might not be as dull a headline as “Worthwhile Canadian Initiative,” but it’s close. In the primaries at least, the Democrats one would expect to adopt this approach – Joe Lieberman, John Kerry, John Edwards – haven’t gotten a ton of traction in the polls. Candidates and campaigns prefer a simple message to a complex one – and in choosing between attacking Bush’s foreign policy on substance or process, Democrats will opt for the former. Third, it's possible that the administration is trying to fix this problem, which is why Bush 41 people seem to be sprouting up. First there's Bob Blackwill, whom I've talked about here. Now there's James Baker, who seems to be having some success in his European trip.
I have a new Slate essay on criticisms of the Bush administration’s management of foreign policy. Go check it out. [Hmmm… this sounds familiar–ed. Yes, this is a theme I’ve touched on a fair amount in the past few months — click here for one example.] On research, I’m much obliged to Joe Katzman for the U.S. News and World Report link and to Virginia Postrel for the Newt Gingrich link. Three caveats that don’t appear in the actual Slate essay, but are worth mentioning. First, although the process critique is coming primarily from the right, they don’t have a monopoly on the story — Josh Marshall has been hammering this point home for some time now — click here for an example. Second, although I think the process critique is a powerful one, Democrats are unlikely to use this line of attack. Why? Process is boring. “Policy Coordination Needed” might not be as dull a headline as “Worthwhile Canadian Initiative,” but it’s close. In the primaries at least, the Democrats one would expect to adopt this approach – Joe Lieberman, John Kerry, John Edwards – haven’t gotten a ton of traction in the polls. Candidates and campaigns prefer a simple message to a complex one – and in choosing between attacking Bush’s foreign policy on substance or process, Democrats will opt for the former. Third, it’s possible that the administration is trying to fix this problem, which is why Bush 41 people seem to be sprouting up. First there’s Bob Blackwill, whom I’ve talked about here. Now there’s James Baker, who seems to be having some success in his European trip.
Daniel W. Drezner is a professor of international politics at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University and co-host of the Space the Nation podcast. Twitter: @dandrezner
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