ABSTRACT
This chapter demonstrates that the interplay between the historic geopolitical circumstances, unique foreign policy conception, aggressive international economic policy, fractious domestic politics and tepid support for traditional diplomacy of the United States are integral to a contextual understanding of why the United States maintained long-standing policies of non-recognition towards Cuba and Iran. It provides an account of the influence of geography, history, theory, ideology and domestic politics on American diplomacy. The chapter explains how Americans developed a unique attitude towards diplomacy, and makes reference to Geoffrey Wiseman's characteristics. The characteristics include an enduring distrust of diplomacy, diplomats and the US State Department, strong domestic influence on foreign policy, prioritizing military solutions over soft power in foreign policy. It also include tendency to diplomatically isolate states that are not ideologically aligned with the US, practice of granting a high percentage of ambassadorships to political appointees instead of career Foreign Service officers and cultural preference for a low-context negotiating style.
