Synopses & Reviews
This timely collection of essays offers one of the first serious efforts to assess the record of American foreign policy over the course of the twentieth century. The essays comprise the work of political scientists as well as historians, conservatives as well as liberals, foreign scholars as well as Americans. Taking off from Henry Luce's vision of an "American century," the authors discuss such important topics as the American conception of the national interest, the tension between democracy and capitalism, the U. S. role in both the developed and underdeveloped worlds, party politics and foreign policy, the significance of race in American foreign relations, and the cultural impact of American diplomacy on the world at large. The result is a lively collection of essays by authors who often disagree but who nonetheless provide the reader with keen insights about the past and provocative views of the future.
Review
"The book is comprehensive in scope, covering issues from foreign policy making, to race, the Third World, non-governmental organizations, consumerism, philanthropy, and cultural imperialism. It is also coherent, which is quite an accomplishment given its size and scope. . . .there is something to interest everyone here." International Journal
Table of Contents
1. Introduction Michael J. Hogan; 2. Making the world safe for democracy Tony Smith; 3. 'Empire by invitation' in the American century Geir Lundestad; 4. America and the twentieth century: continuity and change Robert Jervis; 5. Thoughts on origins and implications of the 'American century': a twice-told tale Martin J. Sklar; 6. The tension between democracy and capitalism during the American century Walter LaFeber; 7. Race from power: US foreign policy and the general crisis of 'white supremacy' Gerald Horne; 8. East Asia in Henry Luce's 'American century' Michael H. Hunt; 9. How well will the United States and the world survive the American century? Joan Hoff; 10. A century of NGOs Akira Iriye; 11. Philanthropy and diplomacy in the 'American century' Volker R. Berghahn; 12. The empire of the fun, or talkin' Soviet Union Blues: the sound of freedom and American cultural hegemony in Europe during the Cold War Reinhold Wagnleitner; 13. Consuming women: images of Americanization in the 'American century' Emily Rosenberg; 14. Partisan politics and foreign policy in the American century Michael J. Hogan.