After reading this chapter, you will be able to:

18.1 Understand what the history of the Cold War and its aftermath can teach us about the diplomatic and military relationships between its former combatants in the twenty-first century

18.2 Summarize the historical development of America’s involvement in international affairs and the conflicts that have shaped changes in the nation’s approach to the world

18.3 Describe the conflicts that arose in the wake of the Arab Spring and the ways in which the uprisings have changed relationships between the United States and Russia and other countries

18.4 Define the actors involved in American foreign policy and the tools they use to advance the nation’s diplomatic, military, and economic interests