Preface
Introduction: The Quest for a Liberalized Realism?
1. City on a Hill?: American Exceptionalism Past and Present
2. Promoting Democracy after the Cold War: Mission Contained
3. Saving Strangers: Humanitarian Intervention and the Responsibility to Protect (R2P)
4. US Detention and Interrogation Policies after 9/11/2001: A Tortured Evolution
5. American Exceptionalism Reined In: The US Supreme Court, Corporations, and the Kiobel Case
6. Hard Times for Human Rights: The Role of Aspiring Powers
Conclusion: Liberalized Realism in Today’s World
David P. Forsythe is Professor Emeritus of Political Science at the
University of Nebraska–Lincoln.
Patrice C. McMahon is Associate Professor of Political Science at
the University of Nebraska–Lincoln.
"From the first page until the last, American Exceptionalism
Reconsidered will grab the reader’s attention. I hope that David
Forsythe and Patrice McMahon are correct that the pursuit of U.S.
national interests can still be blended with attention to universal
human rights and even an occasional commitment to come to the
rescue of those outside its borders."Thomas G. Weiss, Graduate
Center of the City University of New York"Forsythe and McMahon have
written an exceptional book on American exceptionalism. Against the
broad canvas of American history but with a focus on events since
9/11, this intelligent and wide-ranging book shows quite
convincingly what no politician would ever acknowledge: that the
U.S. is no better than any other country. Those seeking an antidote
to ‘make America great again’ will certainly find it here."Mark
Gibney, University of North Carolina–Asheville"This fresh analysis
of a recurring central theme in U.S. policy brings important
insight to bear on the fate of human rights in a post-hegemonic
world. Forsythe and McMahon's rigorous analysis of the U.S. record
builds the case for a more nuanced ‘American globalism’ that
advances academic understanding and strategies for human rights
advocacy."Alison Brysk, University of California–Santa Barbara"The
U.S. does not have a unique interest in promoting the good abroad;
it is a normal country blending self-interest with
internationalism, nationalism with cosmopolitanism. Forsythe and
McMahon expertly make this case by analyzing history, policy, and
law pertaining to issues like humanitarian intervention, torture,
and corporate regulation. This excellent, readable, and current
classroom text is enlivened by frequent reference to American
public opinion and comparison with other large countries’ foreign
policies."Rhoda E. Howard-Hassmann, Wilfrid Laurier University"This
book, a searing but thoughtful indictment of the myth of American
exceptionalism, is an indispensable analysis of a self-identified
'indispensable' country. It exposes double standards in U.S.
foreign policy when it comes to the protection of human rights,
while also recognizing that hypocrisy is not reserved just for the
U.S. This excellent book raises profound questions about the
ability of human rights law to affect state behavior, with
sometimes-uncomfortable conclusions. It notes the paradox that U.S.
power has been central to both attempts to protect human rights and
failure to do so." Kurt Mills, University of Glasgow"All those
concerned with human rights—as scholars or activists—need to
understand the causes and consequences of U.S. foreign policy.
Forsythe and McMahon provide us with an admirably clear and
judiciously balanced account of the history, present state, and
likely future of the U.S. approach to international human rights.
Their nuanced analysis blows away a number of myths that cloud this
important subject."Michael Freeman, University of Essex"For
frustrated human rights advocates ‘American exceptionalism’ is
about the U.S. government’s tendency to eschew certain
international norms, including human rights. For some patriots,
however, it refers to the notion of the U.S. as a sui generis
flagship of democracy and human rights. This informative book
examines and successfully falsifies the latter view with a thorough
study of four major issue areas. Forsythe and McMahon show that the
American public, too, has preferred a self-serving foreign policy.
Raising controversial questions for all U.S. citizens, this
important book will facilitate teaching and learning in classrooms
and beyond."Zehra F. Kabasakal Arat, University of Connecticut
From the first page until the last, American Exceptionalism
Reconsidered will grab the reader’s attention. I hope that Forsythe
and McMahon are correct that the pursuit of US national interests
can still be blended with attention to universal human rights and
even an occasional commitment to come to the rescue of those
outside its borders.Thomas G. Weiss, The CUNY Graduate
CenterForsythe and McMahon have written an exceptional book on
American exceptionalism. Against the broad canvas of American
history but with a focus on events since 9/11, this intelligent and
wide-ranging book shows quite convincingly what no politician would
ever acknowledge: that the US is no better than any other country.
Those seeking an antidote to "make America great again" will
certainly find it here.Mark Gibney, University of North
Carolina–AshevilleThis fresh analysis of a recurring central theme
in US policy brings important insight to bear on the fate of human
rights in a post-hegemonic world. Forsythe and McMahon's rigorous
analysis of the US record builds the case for a more nuanced
"American globalism" that advances academic understanding and
strategies for human rights advocacy.Alison Brysk, University of
California–Santa BarbaraThe US does not have a unique interest in
promoting the good abroad; it is a normal country blending
self-interest with internationalism, nationalism with
cosmopolitanism. Forsythe and McMahon expertly make this case by
analyzing history, policy, and law pertaining to issues like
humanitarian intervention, torture, and corporate regulation. This
excellent, readable, and current classroom text is enlivened by
frequent reference to American public opinion and comparison with
other large countries’ foreign policies.Rhoda E. Howard-Hassmann,
Wilfrid Laurier UniversityThis book, a searing but thoughtful
indictment of the myth of American exceptionalism, is an
indispensable analysis of a self-identified "indispensable"
country. It exposes double standards in US foreign policy when it
comes to the protection of human rights, while also recognizing
that hypocrisy is not reserved just for the US. This excellent book
raises profound questions about the ability of human rights law to
affect state behavior, with sometimes-uncomfortable conclusions. It
notes the paradox that US power has been central to both attempts
to protect human rights and failure to do so. Kurt Mills,
University of GlasgowAll those concerned with human rights – as
scholars or activists - need to understand the causes and
consequences of US foreign policy. Forsythe and McMahon provide us
with an admirably clear and judiciously balanced account of the
history, present state, and likely future of the US approach to
international human rights. Their nuanced analysis blows away a
number of myths that cloud this important subject.Michael Freeman,
University of EssexFor frustrated human rights advocates, "American
exceptionalism" is about the U.S. government's tendency to eschew
certain international norms, including human rights. For some
patriots, however, it refers to the notion of the US as a sui
generis flagship of democracy and human rights. This informative
book examines and successfully falsifies the latter view with a
thorough study of four major issue areas. Forsythe and McMahon show
that the American public, too, has preferred a self-serving foreign
policy. Raising controversial questions for all US citizens, this
important book will facilitate teaching and learning in classrooms
and beyond.Zehra F. Kabasakal Arat, University of Connecticut
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