1154 ★ CHAPTER 28 A New Century and New Crises
involved in the affairs of every region of the world. The country had more
than 1,000 military bases of one kind or another around the globe, with at
least some American soldiers stationed in 175 countries. A study by Amer-
ican intelligence agencies predicted that by 2025 the United States would
remain the world’s most powerful nation, but that its economic and military
predominance would have declined significantly. A “multipolar world,” with
countries like China and India emerging as major powers, would succeed
the era of unquestioned American dominance. The consequences of these
changes remain to be seen.
What is clear is that as in the past, freedom remains central to Americans’
sense of themselves as individuals and as a nation. Americans continue to
debate contemporary issues in a political landscape shaped by ideas of free-
dom. Indeed, freedom remains, as it has always been, an evolving concept, its
definition open to disagreement, its boundaries never fixed or final. Freedom
is neither self- enforcing nor self- correcting. It cannot be taken for granted,
and its preservation requires eternal vigilance, especially in times of crisis.
More than half a century ago, the African- American poet Langston Hughes
urged Americans both to celebrate the freedoms they enjoy and to remember
that freedom has always been incomplete:
There are words like Freedom
Sweet and wonderful to say.
On my heartstrings freedom sings
All day everyday.There are words like Liberty
That almost make me cry.
If you had known what I know
You would know why.CHAPTER REVIEW
REVIEW QUESTIONS
- How did the foreign policy initiatives of the George W. Bush administration depart from
the policies of other presidents since World War II? - How did the September 11 attacks transform Americans’ understanding of their security?
How did the response compare with that after Pearl Harbor? - What are the similarities and differences between America’s involvement in Afghanistan
and Iraq since 2001?