The Shaping of American Diplomacy II. [antikvár]

INTRODUCTIONAmerica's sustained and extensive involvement in world affairssince World War II, which has included two wars and several smaller mili-tary interventions, as well as a great expansion of its economic and politicalinfluence, has had a paradoxical effect on the nation's thinking about thehistory of its foreign relations. On the one hand, Americans have becomeroutinely aware of their country as a major power operating on the basis ofhaving interests and responsibilities in every part of the world. And, alongwith their leaders, large numbers of citizens are directly or indirectly en-gaged in such overseas operations, and in discussions and debates about thepolicies most appropriate to such a global position and the related activities.On the other hand, the character and intensity of many recent experi-ences, such as the Korean War, the Cuban missile crisis, and the war in Viet-nam, have reinforced a traditional feeling and belief that the United Stateswas never seriously engaged in world affairs until after the Spanish-AmericanWaror even until American entrance into World War I. Perhaps the mostrevealing manifestation of that outlook is provided by the way that criticsof contemporary policies and actions have been accused of seeking to returnto an earlier policy of isolationism.Whatever the outcome of the present disagreement over policy, theconfrontation serves as a useful introduction to a study of American foreignrelations. First, it underscores the point that there have always been differ-ences about the most desirable and effective course of action. Second, itdramatizes the truth that the United States is now more directly and widelyinvolved in foreign affairs than it was in the past. And that, in turn, suggestsa third consideration: America's present position as a superpower is not theresult of a sudden change, but is the product of a long process that beganwith the American Revolution.The conflict, agitation, and war that established the United States as anindependent nation between 1163 and 1184 created a world power. The menwho carried through those actions understood that point very clearly. Amer-icans had not been isolationist even while they were citizens of the majorcolony in the British Empire, and they did not become isolationist after-wards. From 1689 to 1163, for example, they participated in five wars; and,