The American "Empire": and Other Studies of US Foreign Policy in a Comparative Perspective (Norwegian University Press Publication)

This book contains four comparative studies of U.S. foreign policy after World War II. The first deals with the way in which American historians have analyzed the origins of the Cold War and argues that moralism, presentism, exceptionalism, and provincialism have been allowed too large a role in such analyses. Another study looks at the American "empire" and compares the U.S. role in the world after 1945 with that of the Soviet Union during the same period and that of Britain in the nineteenth century. The other studies examine the unique qualities and pendulum swings in American foreign policy and American and British policies toward Eastern Europe since World War II. Contents Preface 1. Moralism, Presentism, Exceptionalism, Provincialism, and Other Extravagances in American Writings on the Early Cold War Years I Moralism II Presentism Ill Exceptionalism IV Provincialism V Comments on Some European Contributions VI A Note of Admiration VII What is to Be Done? 2.The American “Empire” 1945-1990* I Introduction II The Debate about America’s Rise Ill The International Environment IV Empire—Some Words on the Term V The American Position of Strength, 1945-Early 1960s VI The Expansion of the United States until the Early 1960s VII “Empire” by Invitation VIII Leader of the “Free World” IX The United States and Its Allies: If so Strong, Why so Many Concessions and Why Such Problematic Allies? X Disinterest and Defeat in America’s Heyday XI The Debate about America’s Decline XII The Declining Relative Strength of the United States XIII Contraction and Partial Expansion XIV Invitations, Interference, and Superpowers versus Local Forces XV The Future of America and the Costs of Empire 3. Uniqueness and Pendulum Swings in US Foreign Policy* I Is American Foreign Policy Unique? II Great Powers and Constant Objectives Ill Some Basic Policy Swings IV The American Attitude to the Soviet Union and to Defense Spending V Western Europe, the Soviet Union, and Defense Spending VI Soviet Attitudes to the West and to Defense Spending VII The American Swings Explained VIII The Importance of American Cultural Factors IX Conclusion 4. The United States, Great Britain and the Origins of the Cold War in Eastern Europe* I Idealism — The Starting Point II Idealism Modified Ill The Yalta Conference IV The Polish Government V The Balkans VI The Search for Leverage VII The Search for the Middle Road Notes Notes to Chapter 1 Notes to Chapter 2 Notes to Chapter 3 Notes to Chapter 4 US Share of World Gross National Product Index