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Promised Land, Crusader State: The American Encounter with the World Since 1776 Paperback – May 15, 1998

by Walter McDougall (Author)

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In "an entertaining and iconoclastic fashion" (Philadelphia Inquirer), the celebrated historian reinterprets the traditions that have shaped U.S. foreign policy from 1776 to the present. "McDougall has written a lively and provocative book" (Wall Street Journal) that is "a rich study of the American experience" (Los Angeles Times).

Promised Land, Crusader State: The American Encounter with the World Since 1776

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Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

When the Cold War ended and left the United States without one clear, monolithic enemy or ideology to battle, a hint of confusion and indecisiveness entered U.S. foreign policy, revealing weaknesses in the American diplomatic tradition. However, According to Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Walter A. McDougall, this confusion was not a result of the Cold War, but rather made more visible by the absence of a looming conflict. Reaching back to 1776 to analyze the foreign policy decisions made during the U.S. progression to superpower, McDougall reveals the numerous paradoxes present in American foreign policy.

Beginning with the original intentions of the Founding Fathers and the various interpretations of those ideals over the years, he deconstructs the role of the U.S. in global affairs, questioning both the logic and motives of how the nation deals with friend and foe. One of McDougall's major contentions centers on efforts to affect other countries' policies and governments by projecting U.S. standards or choices on them. He is particularly concerned with what he views as an overextension of resources and wisdom, and the glaring hypocrisy such efforts reveal. He points to several examples of how time and energy was wasted trying to change those who were uninterested or unwilling. As McDougall points out lucidly and convincingly in Promised Land, Crusader State: The American Encounter With the World Since 1776, one nation cannot cure the major ills of another, and the price of such an attempt is too great to risk. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

Pulitzer Prize-winning historian McDougall renders a service here to students of diplomatic history and general readers alike. In a concise analysis of U.S. diplomatic history, he defines terms such as "isolationism," which are bandied about so casually in post-Cold War debates on U.S. foreign policy. Adapted from his lectures at the University of Pennsylvania, this supremely readable book is presented in conversational style. McDougall divides American diplomatic history into novel "Old Testament" and "New Testament" phases. The Old Testament, which centered on safeguarding liberty at home, extended from the Revolution to the 1890s; the New Testament, featuring crusades abroad, extends from the Spanish-American War to the present. Within the two phases, he identifies eight schools of thought that battle for supremacy today. The challenge for the future is to decide which intellectual currents in America's view of the world should be retained in crafting a new foreign policy. An important work; strongly recommended for all libraries.?James Holmes, Fletcher Sch. of Diplomacy, Tufts Univ., Medford, Mass.
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product details

Paperback: 304 pages
Publisher: Mariner Books; Reprint edition (May 15, 1998)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0395901324
ISBN-13: 978-0395901328
Product Dimensions: 6 x 0.8 x 9 inches
Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
Average Customer Review: 20 customer reviews
Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #41,604 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #327 in Books > Politics & Social Sciences > Politics & Government > Political Science > History & Theory
- #407 in Books > Politics & Social Sciences > Politics & Government > International & World Politics
- #1499 in Books > History > Americas > United States

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Five Stars

ByMrs. Davison February 28, 2017

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

i love it,

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Great classic!

ByRAon February 5, 2017

Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

Clearly written, easy to understand. It is a must read for anyone who intends to understand the underpinnings of US foreign policy. I highly recommend reading author's new book, "The Tradegy of US Foreign Policy" after this book.

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Excellent book for everyone--beginners to policy wonks

ByA. Testeron September 28, 2012

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

I had to read this book for an undergraduate history course. It is an excellent presentation of the events, ideas, and personalities that have shaped American foreign policy since its inception. After reading this book, I walked away with a great sense of how the political discourse has evolved over the years to get us where we are today.

The writer is very engaging so both beginners to the topic and those who typically enjoy historical and/or foreign policy topics will enjoy this book. It's a great starting point for further research!

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America's varied doctrines of dealing with the world

ByCraig MattesonHALL OF FAMETOP 500 REVIEWERon October 4, 2004

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

I first saw Walter McDougall on the C-SPAN Booknotes show discussing this book in 1997. He impressed me so much that I went online and ordered it from Amazon instantly. It is a great read because McDougall writes clearly, concisely, and with a rare vividness for a scholar.

This is not a book of American History per se. It is a book about American's developing and changing doctrines of how to deal with the world beyond our borders. McDougall discusses eight doctrines with four under the "Old Testament" heading (when America was basically turned inward and worried only about the Western Hemisphere), and four under the "New Testament" (when America became a player on the world stage and, briefly, a colonial power).

Understanding these doctrines is essential to understanding America's changing place in the world. These doctrines conflict with each other and yet the all still echo through history to our present. This leads to some of the complexity in our present political relationships with the world and our own muddled sense of ourselves and our role in the world. Certainly, America has done some wonderful things for the world, but the wake of our great ship of state has also made navigation tough for some of the smaller barks trying to stay afloat in the storms of history.

This is a fine book and a great read. I encourage everyone, especially students and young people, to read it carefully and to consider seriously the arguments Prof. McDougall has put forth. You will be better off whether or not you end up agreeing with him.

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Excellent Read

ByN. Crainon January 17, 2012

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

Promised Land, Crusader State is an excellent work that seeks to define the dominant US foreign policy traditions. Key to understanding how America perceives the world and what constitutes a viable American interest is understanding the foreign policy tradition the administration is viewing the world through. The author discusses this gradual shift in policy and the fundamental American values tied to each subtle shift. He uses relevant examples to illustrate his point and summarizes the traditions in a way that makes excellent sense to a layman. Overall this is a worthwhile read.

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An interesting essay on America's foreign policy traditions

BydcreaderVINE VOICEon October 31, 2000

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

McDougall identifies 8 different traditions in American foreign policy, which fall into two "testaments." The "old testament" consists of traditions such as liberty, unilateralism and the American System. Essentially, it involves Americans perfecting their own country and looking towards their own part of the world as the place they need to be most concerned. The "new testament" consists of such traditions as containment, expansion and meliorism. It calls for American to play a much broader role in the world's affairs, although for different reasons. McDougall does not purport to have written a comprehensive diplomatic history as to explain it and how it might be used to conduct future diplomacy. "Promised Land" is not highly ideological - some will find his questioning of the Marshall Plan's success and attack on foreign aid infuriating. Others will be unhappy with his assertion that the US is perhaps well served by its participation in the UN and Nato, as long as the USs ability to act unilaterally when necessary is not impeded. For example, he points out that Washington's famous injunction was against "entangling alliances" rather than all alliances and that those which serve the US interest without limited its freedom of action are consistent with Washington rather than opposing it. In perhaps the most interesting "revision" of the entire book, he repudidates the notion that America has ever been an isolationist nation, saying that it really was a concern for our ability to act unilaterally that was at issue and points to a long history of interventionism to protect US interests dating back to Jefferson and the Barbary Pirates. Finally, the book explains the role of religion in the changing nature of America's policies from that of a promised land where we would lead by example primarily to one where we would be more willing to intervene.

0Comment 6 people found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you?YesNo

This book explained the changing postures our government held toward ...

ByLynnon June 12, 2016

Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

This book explained the changing postures our government held toward other country's throughout our history. Now I know why we were in Viet Nam.

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Too good not to share

ByTheodore Kobernickon March 20, 2015

Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

An interpretation of U.S. history so excellent that I bought this book for my brother (I'm hanging on to my copy.).

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Most recent customer reviews

OK, but selective, and overrated by others

This is better than his follow-up/rewrite, "The Tragedy of US Foreign Policy," if only because this book doesn't engage in pro-Nixon conspiracy theories, unlike that...Read more

Published 8 months ago by S. J. Snyder

Great Writer

I am greatly pleased with finding and receiving this book. I was not aware of this book but thanks to this seller, I have a great respect for Walter McDougall and his knowledge...Read more

Published on March 4, 2014 by Phillip Lund

should be required reading for history buffs

excellent, interesting and challenging book...causes the reader to think about all the things --myths among them -- taught in high school history classes.

Published on June 27, 2013 by jbsdad

Missing a few essentials IMHO

Temp review for the quick read I did as I just sold the book:

Well written for the most part, easy to follow.Read more

Published on August 30, 2011 by onemanwreckingcrew

You Can Move On

People wondering what got into the United States to go to war against Iraq in 2003 find it informative that in 1997 an analyst of U.S.Read more

Published on August 2, 2009 by Joseph Ryan

Our Many Foreign Policy Traditions...

Walter McDougall's 1998 diplomatic history, "Promised Land, Crusader State", is a highly accessible examination of "the American encounter with the world since 1776."Read more

Published on May 20, 2009 by HMS Warspite

Promised Land, Crusader State

This book is a bit dated, 9-11 was still four years away when it was published, but it does provide an insightful analysis of American foreign policy that holds true even since...Read more

Published on May 3, 2008 by J. Lindner

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