Reclaiming American Virtue : The Human Rights Revolution of the 1970s

Présentation de l'éditeur : "The American commitment to international human rights emerged in the 1970s not as a logical outgrowth of American idealism but as a surprising response to national trauma, as Barbara Keys shows in this provocative history. Reclaiming American Virtue situates this novel enthusiasm as a reaction to the profound challenge of the Vietnam War and its tumultuous aftermath. Instead of looking inward for renewal, Americans on the right and the left alike looked outward for ways to restore America's moral leadership. Conservatives took up the language of Soviet dissidents to resuscitate a Cold War narrative that pitted a virtuous United States against the evils of communism. Liberals sought moral cleansing by dissociating the United States from foreign malefactors, spotlighting abuses such as torture in Chile, South Korea, and other right-wing allies. When Jimmy Carter in 1977 made human rights a central tenet of American foreign policy, his administration struggled to reconcile these conflicting visions. Yet liberals and conservatives both saw human rights as a way of moving from guilt to pride. Less a critique of American power than a rehabilitation of it, human rights functioned for Americans as a sleight of hand that occluded from view much of America's recent past and confined the lessons of Vietnam to narrow parameters. It would be a small step from world's judge to world's policeman, and American intervention in the name of human rights would be a cause both liberals and conservatives could embrace." Présentation de l'éditeur : "The American commitment to international human rights emerged in the 1970s not as a logical outgrowth of American idealism but as a surprising response to national trauma, as Barbara Keys shows in this provocative history. Reclaiming American Virtue situates this novel enthusiasm as a reaction to the profound challenge of the Vietnam War and its tumultuous aftermath. Instead of looking inward for renewal, Americans on the right and the left alike looked outward for ways to restore America's moral leadership. Conservatives took up the language of Soviet dissidents to resuscitate a Cold War narrative that pitted a virtuous United States against the evils of communism. Liberals sought moral cleansing by dissociating the United States from foreign malefactors, spotlighting abuses such as torture in Chile, South Korea, and other right-wing allies. When Jimmy Carter in 1977 made human rights a central tenet of American foreign policy, his administration struggled to reconcile these conflicting visions. Yet liberals and conservatives both saw human rights as a way of moving from guilt to pride. Less a critique of American power than a rehabilitation of it, human rights functioned for Americans as a sleight of hand that occluded from view much of America's recent past and confined the lessons of Vietnam to narrow parameters. It would be a small step from world's judge to world's policeman, and American intervention in the name of human rights would be a cause both liberals and conservatives could embrace." The American Commitment To Promoting Human Rights Abroad Emerged In The 1970s As A Surprising Response To National Trauma. In This Provocative History, Barbara Keys Situates This Novel Enthusiasm As A Reaction To The Profound Challenge Of The Vietnam War And Its Aftermath. Instead Of Looking Inward For Renewal, Americans On The Right And The Left Looked Outward For Ways To Restore America's Moral Leadership. Conservatives Took Up The Language Of Soviet Dissidents To Resuscitate The Cold War, While Liberals Sought To Dissociate From Brutally Repressive Allies Like Chile And South Korea. When Jimmy Carter In 1977 Made Human Rights A Central Tenet Of American Foreign Policy, His Administration Struggled To Reconcile These Conflicting Visions. Yet Liberals And Conservatives Both Saw Human Rights As A Way Of Moving From Guilt To Pride. Less A Critique Of American Power Than A Rehabilitation Of It, Human Rights Functioned For Americans As A Sleight Of Hand That Occluded From View Much Of America's Recent Past And Confined The Lessons Of Vietnam To Narrow Parameters. From World's Judge To World's Policeman Was A Small Step, And American Intervention In The Name Of Human Rights Would Be A Cause Both Liberals And Conservatives Could Embrace. The American commitment to international human rights emerged in the 1970s not as a logical outgrowth of American idealism but as a surprising response to national trauma, as Barbara Keys shows in this provocative history. __Reclaiming American Virtue__ situates this novel enthusiasm as a reaction to the profound challenge of the Vietnam War and its tumultuous aftermath. Instead of looking inward for renewal, Americans on the right and the left alike looked outward for ways to restore America's moral leadership. Yet liberals and conservatives both saw human rights as a way of moving from guilt to pride. Less a critique of American power than a rehabilitation of it, human rights functioned for Americans as a sleight of hand that occluded from view much of America's recent past and confined the lessons of Vietnam to narrow parameters. It would be a small step from world's judge to world's policeman, and American intervention in the name of human rights would be a cause both liberals and conservatives could embrace. Contents 6 Introduction: Enter Human Rights 8 1. The Postwar Marginality of Universal Human Rights 22 2. Managing Civil Rights at Home 39 3. The Trauma of the Vietnam War 55 4. The Liberal Critique of Right-Wing Dictatorships 82 5. The Anticommunist Embrace of Human Rights 110 6. A New Calculus Emerges 134 7. Insurgency on Capitol Hill 160 8. The Human Rights Lobby 185 9. A Moralist Campaigns for President 221 10. “We Want to Be Proud Again” 249 Conclusion: Universal Human Rights in American Foreign Policy 276 Abbreviations 286 Notes 290 Bibliographical Essay 346 Acknowledgments 354 Index 358