William Thornton Rickert Fox
Encyclopedia
William Thornton Rickert Fox (1912-1988), generally known as W.T.R. Fox or as William T.R. Fox, was an American foreign policy
professor and international relations
theoretician at the Columbia University
(1950-1980, emeritus
1980-1988). He is perhaps mostly known as the coiner of the term superpower
in 1944. He wrote several books about the foreign policy of the United States of America
and the United Kingdom
(and its predecessor: the British Empire
). He was also a pioneer in establishing the systematic study of statecraft and war as an academic discipline.
. He became in 1951 the first director of the Institute of War and Peace Studies (which was later renamed into the Saltzman Institute of War and Peace Studies). He was also an advisory board member of the Journal of International Affairs
from 1952 until 1988 and the president of the International Studies Association
(ISA) in 1972-1973.
Fox coined the word "superpower" in his 1944 book Superpowers: the United States, Britain, and the Soviet Union—their responsibility for peace to identify a new category of power able to occupy the highest status in a world in which, as the war then raging demonstrated, states could challenge and fight each other on a global scale. According to him, there were (at that moment) three states that were superpowers: the United States
, the Soviet Union
, and the British Empire
.
Foreign policy
A country's foreign policy, also called the foreign relations policy, consists of self-interest strategies chosen by the state to safeguard its national interests and to achieve its goals within international relations milieu. The approaches are strategically employed to interact with other countries...
professor and international relations
International relations
International relations is the study of relationships between countries, including the roles of states, inter-governmental organizations , international nongovernmental organizations , non-governmental organizations and multinational corporations...
theoretician at the Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
(1950-1980, emeritus
Emeritus
Emeritus is a post-positive adjective that is used to designate a retired professor, bishop, or other professional or as a title. The female equivalent emerita is also sometimes used.-History:...
1980-1988). He is perhaps mostly known as the coiner of the term superpower
Superpower
A superpower is a state with a dominant position in the international system which has the ability to influence events and its own interests and project power on a worldwide scale to protect those interests...
in 1944. He wrote several books about the foreign policy of the United States of America
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
(and its predecessor: the British Empire
British Empire
The British Empire comprised the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom. It originated with the overseas colonies and trading posts established by England in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. At its height, it was the...
). He was also a pioneer in establishing the systematic study of statecraft and war as an academic discipline.
Academic career
He obtained his Ph.D at the University of ChicagoUniversity of Chicago
The University of Chicago is a private research university in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It was founded by the American Baptist Education Society with a donation from oil magnate and philanthropist John D. Rockefeller and incorporated in 1890...
. He became in 1951 the first director of the Institute of War and Peace Studies (which was later renamed into the Saltzman Institute of War and Peace Studies). He was also an advisory board member of the Journal of International Affairs
Journal of International Affairs
The Journal of International Affairs is a foreign affairs academic journal published bi-yearly by the students at the School of International and Public Affairs...
from 1952 until 1988 and the president of the International Studies Association
International Studies Association
The International Studies Association was founded by a group of scholars and practitioners in 1959 to pursue mutual interests in international studies. Representing eighty countries, ISA has over three thousand members worldwide and is the most respected and widely known scholarly association in...
(ISA) in 1972-1973.
Superpower
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
, and the British Empire
British Empire
The British Empire comprised the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom. It originated with the overseas colonies and trading posts established by England in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. At its height, it was the...
.
Articles
- "Science, Technology and International Politics" in International Studies Quarterly, Vol. 12, No. 1. (Mar., 1968), pp. 1-15.
- ""The Truth Shall Make You Free": One Student's Appreciation of Quincy WrightQuincy WrightPhilip Quincy Wright was an American political scientist known for his pioneering work and expertise in international law and international relations.- Biography :...
" in The Journal of Conflict ResolutionJournal of Conflict ResolutionThe Journal of Conflict Resolution is a peer-reviewed academic journal that publishes scholarly articles and book reviews dealing with international conflict and conflict resolution. Its scope is similar to that of the Journal of Peace Research...
, Vol. 14, No. 4. (Dec., 1970), pp. 449-452. - "The Problems of War Termination: The Causes of Peace and Conditions of War" in the Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social ScienceAmerican Academy of Political and Social ScienceThe American Academy of Political and Social Science was founded in 1889 to promote progress in the social sciences. Sparked by Professor Edmund J. James and drawing from members of the faculty of the University of Pennsylvania, Swarthmore College, and Bryn Mawr College, the Academy sought to...
, Vol. 392, How Wars End. (Nov., 1970), pp. 1-13.
Books
- Superpowers: the United States, Britain, and the Soviet union—their responsibility for peace (1944)
- Theoretical Aspects of International Relations (editor, 1959)
- Nato and the range of American choice (1967)
- European Security and the Atlantic System (editor, 1973)
- A Continent Apart The United States and Canada in World Politics (1985)