Bipartisanship and US Foreign Policy: Cooperation in a Polarized Age

“Polarization has certainly undermined partisan comity but Jordan Tama’s careful and illuminating research demonstrates that Democrats and Republicans in Congress still vote together on foreign policy issues surprisingly often. Tama’s explanation for the persistence of bipartisanship is a major contribution to research on the politics of foreign policy.” — Benjamin O. Fordham, Professor, Department of Political Science, Binghamton University

“Despite unprecedented levels of partisan polarization, Jordan Tama argues bipartisanship remains surprisingly common in foreign affairs. However, not all bipartisanship involves legislators from both sides of the aisle backing presidential policies. Rather, Tama critically shows how cross-partisan and bipartisan coalitions frequently push back against the president with considerable effect.” — Douglas L. Kriner, Clinton Rossiter Professor in American Institutions, Department of Government, Cornell University

“Working across party lines is essential to protect national security and advance democracy around the world. Jordan Tama lays out the hurdles and pathways for cooperation, success, and good outcomes in a carefully examined approach to policymaking that is an essential read for effective legislating and diplomacy.” — Russ Feingold, Former U.S. Senator from Wisconsin and Former Member of the Senate Foreign Relations and Intelligence Committees

“Most studies of Congress and foreign policy give a gloomy prognosis for our polarized era. This book offers hope. Tama shows that bipartisanship on foreign policy is alive and comes in more forms than previously recognized. An essential read on the politics of foreign policy.” — Elizabeth N. Saunders, Associate Professor and Director of Montara Center for International Studies, Georgetown University

“Bipartisanship in a Polarized Age is an important and timely book. It is carefully researched and builds strong theoretical and empirical arguments to show that bipartisanship in foreign policy is far more common than one would suspect. In a time of deep political divisions, this book is a powerful and unique testament to how bipartisanship can and does function in American foreign policy.” — Jon Pevehouse, Vilas Distinguished Professor of Political Science and Public Affairs, University of Wisconsin

“This is an important book that persuasively challenges conventional wisdom on the sources and scale of congressional dysfunction. It deserves to be read widely.” — Andrew Payne, International Affairs

“As Tama’s book emphasizes, many models of representation are adopted from time to time by U.S. lawmakers. This leads to an array of voting coalitions: some in the classic bipartisan mode; some in which the parties are miles apart; and some that are patchwork quilt factions within the two parties, as is often the case on trade policies-depending on how they might affect one’s district. Tama’s central thesis is no doubt correct: bipartisanship does occur, even in politically turbulent times.” — Loch K. Johnson, Congress & the Presidency

Jordan Tama is Provost Associate Professor at the School of International Service at American University, Non-Resident Senior Fellow at the Chicago Council on Global Affairs, and Co-Director of Bridging the Gap. His research examines the politics, institutions, and tools of US foreign policy. His publications include four books and many journal articles, policy reports, and articles in major newspapers and magazines. Tama has served as a senior aide in the US House of Representatives, a foreign policy speechwriter, and a presidential campaign advisor.