ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on the foreign policy of Ronald Reagan, placing his administration in historical context. It discusses the development of Ronald Reagan's worldview, particularly his view of American power and the Soviet Union, his vision for American foreign policy and how this shaped his attitude to executing the functions of the office of the presidency. The chapter argues that Reagan's worldview was formulated as a result of his direct experience of working with American communists in Hollywood in the 1940s and his dislike of the policy of containment. The chapter also argues that Reagan's management weaknesses directly contributed to the bureaucratic confusion that existed during his administration. It then focuses on Reagan's inability to manage the relationship between his National Security Council staff and the State Department, the relationship between the national security advisor and the secretary of state, and the divisions between the hardliners and moderates within his administration.
