John Shosky

The Russian Origins of the First World War

approach of George W. Bush, who is seen as a nationalistic interventionist. Initially, George W. Bush did not base his presidency on a strong foreign policy. He had intended to pursue a conservative domestic policy and a limited foreign policy. This changed after 11 September 2001 when Arab terrorists used planes to attack targets in the United States. Bush’s response was swift and consequential. First, he ordered an invasion of Afghanistan, which toppled the Islamist Taliban that was harboring the 9/11 mastermind, Osama Bin Laden. Secondly, his administration, despite strong international opposition, invaded Iraq in 2003 and toppled Saddam Hussein. Bush’s actions indicate that, unlike his father, he was willing to act in his country’s interests, even at the cost of displeasing allies. In his conclusion, Dueck recapitulates the main points of the book and discusses the conservative constants of Republican foreign policy from the 1950s until the present: interventionism, nationalism, and hawkishness. The actual implementation of policy depends on whether the given president has a realistic or idealistic outlook. He correctly points out that foreign policy is designed by the president and believes this will remain so in the future. This book is a welcome addition to the literature on American foreign policy in general and on Republican foreign policy in particular. In the opinion of this reviewer, Colin Dueck has succeeded in debunking certain inaccurate, though commonly held, perceptions of Republican foreign policy.

Healthy Children Ready to Learn

Being Healthy Is Critical To School Readiness Health and school readiness begin long before a child enters a classroom. “Striking disparities in what children know and can do are evident well before they enter kindergarten. These differences are strongly associated with social and economic circumstances and they are predictive of subsequent academic performance (Shonkoff and Phillips, 2000).” Young children who are healthy and safe are more prepared for school.