Americanism : New Perspectives on the History of an Ideal

What is Americanism? The contributors to this volume recognize Americanism in all its complexity--as an ideology, an articulation of the nation's rightful place in the world, a set of traditions, a political language, and a cultural style imbued with political meaning. In response to the pervasive vision of Americanism as a battle cry or a smug assumption, this collection of essays stirs up new questions and debates that challenge us to rethink the model currently being exported, too often by force, to the rest of the world. Crafted by a cast of both rising and renowned intellectuals from three continents, the twelve essays in this volume are divided into two sections. The first group of essays addresses the understanding of Americanism within the United States over the past two centuries, from the early republic to the war in Iraq. The second section provides perspectives from around the world in an effort to make sense of how the national creed and its critics have shaped diplomacy, war, and global culture in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. Approaching a controversial ideology as both scholars and citizens, many of the essayists call for a revival of the ideals of Americanism in a new progressive politics that can bring together an increasingly polarized and fragmented citizenry. Contributors: Mia Bay, Rutgers University Jun Furuya, Hokkaido University, Japan Gary Gerstle, University of Maryland Jonathan M. Hansen, Harvard University Michael Kazin, Georgetown University Rob Kroes, University of Amsterdam Melani McAlister, The George Washington University Joseph A. McCartin, Georgetown University Alan McPherson, Howard University Louis Menand, Harvard University Mae M. Ngai, University of Chicago Robert Shalhope, University of Oklahoma Stephen J. Whitfield, Brandeis University Alan Wolfe, Boston College What is Americanism? The contributors to this volume recognize Americanism in all its complexity--as an ideology, an articulation of the nation's rightful place in the world, a set of traditions, a political language, and a cultural style imbued with political meaning. In response to the pervasive vision of Americanism as a battle cry or a smug assumption, this collection of essays stirs up new questions and debates that challenge us to rethink the model currently being exported, too often by force, to the rest of the world. Approaching a controversial ideology as both scholars and citizens, many of the essayists call for a revival of the ideals of Americanism in a new progressive politics that can bring together an increasingly polarized and fragmented citizenry. The contributors are Mia Bay, Jun Furuya, Gary Gerstle, Jonathan M. Hansen, Michael Kazin, Rob Kroes, Melani McAlister, Joseph A. McCartin, Alan McPherson, Louis Menand, Mae M. Ngai, Robert Shalhope, Stephen J. Whitfield, and Alan Wolfe. The editors are Michael Kazin and Joseph A. McCartin. What Is Americanism? The Contributors To This Volume Recognize Americanism In All Its Complexity - As An Ideology, An Articulation Of The Nation's Rightful Place In The World, A Set Of Traditions, A Political Language, And A Cultural Style Imbued With Political Meaning. In Response To The Pervasive Vision Of Americanism As A Battle Cry Or A Smug Assumption, This Collection Of Essays Stirs Up New Questions And Debates That Challenge Us To Rethink The Model Currently Being Exported, Too Often By Force, To The Rest Of The World. Approaching A Controversial Ideology As Both Scholars And Citizens, Many Of The Essayists Call For A Revival Of The Ideals Of Americanism In A New Progressive Politics That Can Bring Together An Increasingly Polarized And Fragmented Citizenry.--jacket. See Your Declaration Americans!!! : Abolitionism, Americanism, And The Revolutionary Tradition In Free Black Politics / Mia Bay -- Anticipating Americanism : An Individual Perspective On Republicanism In The Early Republic / Robert Shalhope -- True Americanism : Progressive Era Intellectuals And The Problem Of Liberal Nationalism / Jonathan Hansen -- The American Century Of Henry R. Luce / Stephen J. Whitfield -- The Unlovely Residue Of Outworn Prejudices : The Hart-celler Act And The Politics Of Immigration Reform, 1945-1965 / Mae M. Ngai -- In The Shadow Of Vietnam : Liberal Nationalism And The Problem Of War / Gary Gerstle -- Religious Diversity : The American Experiment That Works / Alan Wolfe -- Americanism Against American Empire / Alan Mcpherson -- Japanese Intellectuals Define America, From The 1920s Through World War Ii / Jun Furuya -- The Promise Of Freedom, The Friend Of Authority : American Culture In Postwar France / Louis Menand -- French Views Of American Modernity : From Text To Subtext / Rob Kroes -- Suffering Sisters? American Feminists And The Problem Of Female Genital Surgeries / Melani Mcalister. Edited By Michael Kazin & Joseph A. Mccartin. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Contents 5 Introduction 9 See Your Declaration Americans!!!: Abolitionism, Americanism, and the Revolutionary Tradition in Free Black Politics 31 Anticipating Americanism: An Individual Perspective on Republicanism in the Early Republic 59 True Americanism: Progressive Era Intellectuals and 79 The American Century of Henry R. Luce 96 The Unlovely Residue of Outworn Prejudices: The Hart-Celler Act and the Politics of Immigration Reform, 1945–1965 114 In the Shadow of Vietnam: Liberal Nationalism and the Problem of War 134 Religious Diversity: The American Experiment That Works 159 Americanism against American Empire 173 Japanese Intellectuals Define America, from the 1920s through World War II 196 The Promise of Freedom, the Friend of Authority: American Culture in Postwar France 209 French Views of American Modernity: From Text to Subtext 225 Suffering Sisters?: American Feminists and the Problem of Female Genital Surgeries 246 Contributors 267 Acknowledgments 269 Index 271 Presents the recognition of Americanism as an ideology, an articulation of the nation's rightful place in the world, a set of traditions, a political language, and a cultural style imbued with political meaning. This collection of essays stirs up debates in response to the pervasive vision of Americanism as a battle cry or a smug assumption. Sometime during the eventful year of 1776, a mulatto man named Lemuel Haynes sat down and composed his own addition to the Declaration of Independence: a manuscript entitled "Liberty Further Extended."