Understanding Prospects for Change: An Early Assessment of Foreign-Policy Leadership in the Obama Administration

This paper evaluates the early foreign-policy rhetoric and decision making of the Obama administration. It focuses on three areas of scholarly analysis: the development of an overarching strategy to guide policies; selection of an advisory team and management of the advisory process; and interaction with Congress on policy making. The paper finds that the Obama administration has developed clear goals in foreign affairs to date, though not a strategic doctrine, and a collegial advisory team, but it has experienced some conflict with Congress over executive power.