The American Way of Empire: How America Won a World--But Lost Her Way
Since the September 11th, 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon, traditional American foreign policy has proven inadequate to 21st Century challenges of Islamic terrorism and globalization.
In this ground-breaking analysis, author James Kurth explains that the roots of America's current foreign policy crisis lie in contradictions of an American empire which attempted to transform traditional American national interests promoted by Presidents like Teddy Roosevelt and FDR into a new American-led global order that has unsucessfully attempted to promote supposedly universal, rather than uniquely American, ideals.
Kurth dates the creation of the American empire to the morning of September 2nd, 1945, when General Douglas MacArthur, at the head of the representatives of the Allied Forces, received the surrender of the representatives of the Empire of Japan.
And so, the book begins, on its front cover, with a depiction of the moment when the American Empire, and the "American Century," were born...
Key Topics Covered
This comprehensive analysis examines the evolution of American foreign policy from the end of World War II through the post-9/11 era. Kurth traces how American national interests transformed into a global imperial project, analyzing the tensions between traditional diplomatic approaches and modern interventionist strategies.
The book provides critical insights into the contradictions inherent in American attempts to promote universal ideals while maintaining empire. It explores how Presidents from Teddy Roosevelt to FDR shaped American foreign policy, and how their legacy contrasts with contemporary approaches to international relations and global terrorism.
Ideal for students of political science, international relations scholars, and readers interested in understanding the historical context of American foreign policy decisions. This ground-breaking work offers perspective on how the United States transitioned from a rising power to a global empire, and the challenges that transformation created.
