The
twentieth century was ‘‘the American century.’’ Since 1945, America has enjoyed,
and continues to enjoy, a unique role in the world as the pre-eminent
poli-tical, military, and economic power. The contemporary debates on what
global role the US should play are rooted in American history.
A
large majority of the Founding Fathers did not wish the US to become involved
in global affairs. Blessed by geographical position and abundant natural
resources, the US maintained a low foreign policy profile during its first
hundred years. The gradual expansion of territory during the nineteenth century
was followed by an imperial scramble at the turn of the century. Presidents
Theodore Roosevelt and Woodrow Wilson represented competing visions of realism
and idealism.
The
First World War intervention in 1917 was decisive in securing an allied victory
but the US rejected the League of Nations and reverted to isolationism and
protec-tionist economic policies in the inter-war years. The Japanese attack on
Pearl Har-bor in 1941 catapulted the US into the Second World War and again its
intervention was decisive in ensuring allied victory.
After
1945, the US began a massive global engagement and arms build-up to ensure
‘‘containment’’ of communism. There was broad bipartisan support for US foreign
policy during the Cold War. Superpower rivalry dominated international
poli-tics. The Vietnam War divided America and colored later thinking about
military interventions.
The
Cold War era saw massive expansion in national security structures and huge budgets
for military and intelligence communities. The end of the Cold War was due to
freedom and independence movements in Eastern Europe, the internal collapse of
the Soviet Union, and US arms spending during the Reagan presidency.
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