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The Resource Debating American exceptionalism : empire and democracy in the wake of the Spanish-American War, Fabian Hilfrich, (electronic book)

Debating American exceptionalism : empire and democracy in the wake of the Spanish-American War, Fabian Hilfrich, (electronic book)

Creator
Summary
  • Empire fascinates and frightens Americans. It evokes national power and prestige, but also doom and decline. At a time when the United States remains embroiled in Afghanistan and once again discusses the pros and cons (and indeed the existence) of an empire overseas, it is apt to look back to the first time Americans fought about this issue. That late nineteenth-century debate erupted in the wake of the Spanish-American War of 1898. It focused not only on foreign policy, but also on the nation's very essence and purpose. At the heart of this debate was a surprising consensus about American nationalism. It assumed that the United States was a nation unlike any other and that this exceptionalism destined the country to promote democracy worldwide. The disagreements between imperialists and anti-imperialists occurred within this particularly American consensus. They were rooted in the malleability of the concept of exceptionalism. This book does not address the question of whether exceptionalism accurately reflects the United States' place in the world; instead, it highlights and dissects the concept's malleability. This malleability is of vital importance because it explains exceptionalism's longevity. It helps us understand why the belief in exceptionalism still serves as the basis of American nationalism and foreign policy in spite of more recent military failures, which were supposed to spell the 'end of exceptionalism.'
  • "This in-depth analysis of the American imperialism debate after the Spanish-American War of 1898 elucidates how Americans understood their international role and national identity during a crucial period of their foreign relations. Transcending the immediate historical context, this book also explores why such debates remain similar and why they end up affirming a belief in American exceptionalism. Obituaries for the idea have frequently been written in response to controversial foreign policies, but exceptionalism remains vibrant and at the heart of the arguments of those who support and those who oppose these policies - whether in the Philippines, Vietnam, or Iraq"--
Language
eng
Work
Publication
Edition
First edition.
Extent
1 online resource (xii, 279 pages)
Contents
  • Democracy and Freedom Abroad
  • Democracy and Exclusion : The Issue of Race
  • Roads to Utopia : Exceptionalism, Mission, and Principles
  • Democracy at Home : Democratic Sanction for Foreign Policy
  • What is America?
  • Doomsday Scenarios
  • The Right to Dissent and the Meaning of Patriotism
Isbn
9780230392892
Instance
Label
Debating American exceptionalism : empire and democracy in the wake of the Spanish-American War
Title
Debating American exceptionalism
Title remainder
empire and democracy in the wake of the Spanish-American War
Statement of responsibility
Fabian Hilfrich
Creator
Subject
Language
eng
Summary
  • Empire fascinates and frightens Americans. It evokes national power and prestige, but also doom and decline. At a time when the United States remains embroiled in Afghanistan and once again discusses the pros and cons (and indeed the existence) of an empire overseas, it is apt to look back to the first time Americans fought about this issue. That late nineteenth-century debate erupted in the wake of the Spanish-American War of 1898. It focused not only on foreign policy, but also on the nation's very essence and purpose. At the heart of this debate was a surprising consensus about American nationalism. It assumed that the United States was a nation unlike any other and that this exceptionalism destined the country to promote democracy worldwide. The disagreements between imperialists and anti-imperialists occurred within this particularly American consensus. They were rooted in the malleability of the concept of exceptionalism. This book does not address the question of whether exceptionalism accurately reflects the United States' place in the world; instead, it highlights and dissects the concept's malleability. This malleability is of vital importance because it explains exceptionalism's longevity. It helps us understand why the belief in exceptionalism still serves as the basis of American nationalism and foreign policy in spite of more recent military failures, which were supposed to spell the 'end of exceptionalism.'
  • "This in-depth analysis of the American imperialism debate after the Spanish-American War of 1898 elucidates how Americans understood their international role and national identity during a crucial period of their foreign relations. Transcending the immediate historical context, this book also explores why such debates remain similar and why they end up affirming a belief in American exceptionalism. Obituaries for the idea have frequently been written in response to controversial foreign policies, but exceptionalism remains vibrant and at the heart of the arguments of those who support and those who oppose these policies - whether in the Philippines, Vietnam, or Iraq"--
Member of
Assigning source
Provided by publisher
Cataloging source
UKPGM
http://library.link/vocab/creatorName
Hilfrich, Fabian
Dewey number
973.8/92
Illustrations
illustrations
Index
index present
LC call number
E713
LC item number
.H55 2012
Literary form
non fiction
Nature of contents
  • dictionaries
  • bibliography
http://library.link/vocab/subjectName
  • Spanish-American War (1898)
  • United States
  • United States
  • Spanish-American War, 1898
  • United States
  • Exceptionalism
  • National characteristics, American
  • Imperialism
  • Democracy
  • United States
  • Political culture
  • United States
Label
Debating American exceptionalism : empire and democracy in the wake of the Spanish-American War, Fabian Hilfrich, (electronic book)
Instantiates
Publication
Bibliography note
Includes bibliographical references and index
Carrier category
online resource
Carrier category code
  • cr
Carrier MARC source
rdacarrier.
Color
multicolored
Content category
text
Content type code
  • txt
Content type MARC source
rdacontent.
Contents
Democracy and Freedom Abroad -- Democracy and Exclusion : The Issue of Race -- Roads to Utopia : Exceptionalism, Mission, and Principles -- Democracy at Home : Democratic Sanction for Foreign Policy -- What is America? -- Doomsday Scenarios -- The Right to Dissent and the Meaning of Patriotism
Control code
SPR809796412
Dimensions
unknown
Edition
First edition.
Extent
1 online resource (xii, 279 pages)
Form of item
online
Isbn
9780230392892
Media category
computer
Media MARC source
rdamedia.
Media type code
  • c
Other control number
9786613900364
Other physical details
illustrations.
Reproduction note
Electronic resource.
Specific material designation
remote
Label
Debating American exceptionalism : empire and democracy in the wake of the Spanish-American War, Fabian Hilfrich, (electronic book)
Publication
Bibliography note
Includes bibliographical references and index
Carrier category
online resource
Carrier category code
  • cr
Carrier MARC source
rdacarrier.
Color
multicolored
Content category
text
Content type code
  • txt
Content type MARC source
rdacontent.
Contents
Democracy and Freedom Abroad -- Democracy and Exclusion : The Issue of Race -- Roads to Utopia : Exceptionalism, Mission, and Principles -- Democracy at Home : Democratic Sanction for Foreign Policy -- What is America? -- Doomsday Scenarios -- The Right to Dissent and the Meaning of Patriotism
Control code
SPR809796412
Dimensions
unknown
Edition
First edition.
Extent
1 online resource (xii, 279 pages)
Form of item
online
Isbn
9780230392892
Media category
computer
Media MARC source
rdamedia.
Media type code
  • c
Other control number
9786613900364
Other physical details
illustrations.
Reproduction note
Electronic resource.
Specific material designation
remote

Subject

Member of

Library Locations

Library Links

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