This study demonstrates that, in the post Cold War era, US leadership becomes more\ud
crucial than ever. Through the adoption of a classical approach; a thorough case study\ud
of diplomatic efforts vis-a-vis Albania coupled with America's response to the crisis in\ud
Bosnia, highlights the weakness of US policy in the former and its outright failure in the\ud
case of the latter. Historical analysis demonstrates that recent violent nationalism in the\ud
Balkans did not suddenly erupt into violence. Instead, it remains dormant until such time\ud
that power vacuums, the result of power politics, are created. Indeed, the work seeks to\ud
show the history of Western, especially US, policy failure and short-sightedness in the\ud
region and how past trends have invoked present failures and crises which have yet to be\ud
remedied. The examination of US relations with Albania, shows that much more is\ud
required in America's efforts to ensure that democracy succeeds in Albania, and that a\ud
deeper analysis demonstrates the need for greater mutual understanding between the US\ud
and Albania. The Bosnian crisis is an example of American and Western failure which\ud
should not be repeated elsewhere in the region. By reviewing the tenets of American\ud
foreign policy, the study seeks to shed light upon the theories which have dominated\ud
current debate. The aim of such a review is to examine the trend, or trends, which have\ud
surfaced from the foreign policy debate and, specifically, whether or not these indicate\ud
the direction American foreign policy towards the region should be taking in the post-\ud
Cold War era