Special Providence

Mehr zum Buch

"God has a special providence for fools, drunks and the United States of America."--Otto von Bismarck. America's response to the September 11 attacks highlighted its longstanding goals: protecting liberty, securing economic interests, spreading democracy, and vanquishing enemies. Walter Russell Mead, a leading foreign policy thinker, argues that these conflicting impulses are key to the U.S.'s global success. He identifies four historical patterns in American foreign policy, each represented by a significant figure. Wilsonians act as moral missionaries, promoting democracy through international institutions like the U.N. Hamiltonians support international engagement to expand markets and the economy. Populist Jacksonians advocate for a strong military, used sparingly but decisively against adversaries. Jeffersonians prioritize domestic liberty and are wary of large military and international initiatives. Mead's work offers a fresh perspective on America's role in the world, moving beyond outdated debates of realists versus idealists and hawks versus doves, to present a nuanced, historically-informed view of American foreign policy.