American exceptionalism and the legacy of Vietnam : US foreign policy since 1974 /
Trevor B. McCrisken.
- 1st ed.
- Hampshire ; New York : Palgrave Macmillan, 2003.
- ix, 237 p. ; 23 cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
American exceptionalism: an introduction -- The end of American exceptionalism? The Cold War and Vietnam -- Gerald Ford and the time for healing -- Jimmy Carter - mortality and the crisis of confidence -- Ronald Reagan - 'America is back' -- George Bush - the 'vision thing' and the New World Order -- Bill Clinton and the 'indispensable nation' -- Conclusions: American exceptionalism and the legacy of Vietnam.
American Exceptionalism and the Legacy of Vietnam examines the influence of the belief in American exceptionalism on the history of U.S. foreign policy since the Vietnam War. Trevor B. McCrisken analyzes attempts by each post-Vietnam U.S. administration to revive the popular belief in exceptionalism both rhetorically and by pursuing foreign policy supposedly grounded in traditional American principles. He argues that exceptionalism consistently provided the framework for foreign policy discourse but that the conduct of foreign affairs was limited by the Vietnam syndrome.
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Vietnam War, 1961-1975--Influence National characteristics, American Nationalism--History--United States--20th century Political culture--History--United States--20th century Exceptionalism--United States
United States--Foreign relations United States--Foreign relations--20th Century