By examining several cases of U.S. management of secessionist crises in the Balkans and Africa, Jonathan Paquin shows that American foreign policy occasionally recognizes break-away states if it believes that supporting them will help re-establish regional stability. Analyzing examples of such situations reveals that even though US policy apparently favours stable international borders, Washington’s primary concern is not to maintain the status quo but rather to seek stability. An illuminating study of foreign policy, A Stability-Seeking Power will have broad implications for understanding U.S. involvement in international affairs, and assessing the security concerns that secessionist conflicts raise.