Why has the USA assumed so large and expensive a task in international affairs over the past hundred years? the 2 most typical solutions to this question are "because it will possibly" and "because it had to." Neither resolution will do, based on this difficult re-examination of ways that the US got here to imagine its international function. The country's substantial fiscal assets gave it the potential to workout nice impact out of the country, yet american citizens have been lengthy reluctant to fulfill the prices of wielding that strength. Neither the country's security from overseas assault nor its fiscal health and wellbeing required the success of bold overseas coverage objectives.

In A feel of Power, John A. Thompson takes an extended view of America's dramatic upward thrust as a global strength, from the overdue 19th century into the post–World warfare II period. How, and extra importantly why, has the US come to play this type of dominant position in international affairs? there's, he argues, no uncomplicated solution. Thompson demanding situations traditional motives of America's involvement in international battle I and international struggle II, seeing neither the necessities of nationwide protection nor fiscal pursuits as opting for. He indicates how American leaders from Wilson to Truman built an ever extra capacious realizing of the nationwide curiosity, and why by way of the Nineteen Forties such a lot american citizens got here to aid the associated fee tag, in blood and treasure, connected to strenuous efforts to form the realm. The ideals and feelings that led them to take action mirrored targeted facets of U.S. tradition, now not least the energy of ties to Europe. cognizance of the nation’s exact energy fostered emotions of accountability, entitlement, and aspiration one of the humans and leaders of the United States.

This unique research demanding situations a few broadly held ideals in regards to the determinants of usa international coverage and should deliver new perception to modern debates approximately no matter if the kingdom should—or must—play so energetic an element in global politics.