Jie Chen is assistant professor of political science at Teikyo Loretto Heights University in Denver, Colorado. He received his PhD from Washington State University and was a policy analyst at the State Council of the People's Republic of China from 1982-1985.

Introduction: Theoretical Foundations and Hypotheses for the Case Studies
The Strong Impact of Ideology in U.S. Foreign Policy toward the P.R.C., 1949-1953
The Weak Impact of Ideology in U.S. Foreign Policy Toward the P.R.C., 1969-1972
The Strong Impact of Ideology in U.S. Foreign Policy toward the P.R.C., 1980-1982
Conclusion: Summary and Theoretical Implications
Selected Bibliography
Index

This book provides an alternative theoretical approach to the study of ideology in U.S. foreign policy, emphasizing the importance of ideology in foreign relations. Unlike traditional approaches, which tend to neglect the variability of ideological influence, Chen's approach postulates a two-step causal relationship that explains changes in the strength of ideology and their influence on U.S. foreign policy. Changes in objective conditions cause changes in the strength of ideology, and these changes, in turn, create fluctuations in U.S. foreign policy.
Chen explores that causal relationship empirically through detailed case studies of U.S. China policy and also, in his concluding analysis, looks at ideology and recent U.S. policies toward Eastern Europe and the Middle East. This book will be of interest to teachers and students of international relations.