PraiseforSpecialProvidence
"Brilliant...thought-provoking...WalterRussellMead,a prolificand
engagingwriter,hasproduceda historyofAmericanforeignpolicyturning
uponAmericanideasandpracticessincethedaysoftheFounders.Atitscore
isa myth-breakingpropositionthattheU.S.hasbeenactively,andmostly
successfully,involvedintheworldeconomicallyanddiplomaticallysincethe
early daysoftheRepublic.Americanisolationism,theauthorargues,isa
mythpropagatedtorallypublicopinionforengagementintheearlydaysof
theColdWar."-TheWashingtonMonthly
"Astunningachievement.Atatimeofcrisis,Mead'sbookforcesthereader
torethinkthecentralideasthathaveguidedAmericanforeignpolicyinthe
pastandarelikelycoshapeitsfuture."-JamesChace,authorofTheSecretaryofStateWhoCreatedthe
AmericanWorld
"Inhisambitiousandimportantnewbook,WalterRussellMeadoffersa
provocativeandhighlyoriginalwayoflookingatAmericanforeignpolicy,
onethatmovesfarbeyondtheconventionalwisdomof'realistsvs.idealists.'
HisinsightslinkingthegrandsweepofAmericanhistorytoourpresent
worldsituationareparticularlyvaluable.I recommendthisbooktoanyone
whoisinterestedinAmerica'sroleinourincreasinglycomplexworld,"
-RichardC.Holbrooke,authorofToEndaWar
"Exceedinglyinteresting...a treasuretroveformodern-daypolicy-makers
seekinghistoricaljustificationsfortheirpositions..."-JamesP.Rubin,TheNewRepUblic
"Afreshand well-writtenintroductiontoAmericanforeign policy tradi-
tions."
-ForeignAffairs
"TounderstandU.S.foreignpolicy,itisnecessarytounderstandtheUnited
States.NobodyunderstandseitherbetterthanWalterRussellMead.This
bookisdestinedtojointhesmalllistofclassicsthatexplainAmericatothe
worldandtoAmericansthemselves."
-MichaelE.Lind,authorofVietnam,TheNecessaryWaf
"This important book-high-spirited, eloquent,and imaginative-could
wellchangethewaywethinkaboutAmerica'srelat:ions",it:ht:he"""odd."
-RonaldSteel,authorofTemptationsofaSuperpowef