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Isolationism
The first book to tell the full story of American isolationism, from the founding era through the Trump presidency.
In his Farewell Address of 1796, President George Washington admonished the young nation "to steer clear of permanent alliances with any portion of the foreign world." Isolationism thereafter became one of the most influential political trends in American history. From the founding era until the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, the United States shunned strategic commitments abroad, making only brief detours during the Spanish-American War and World War I. Amid World War II and the Cold War, Americans abandoned isolationism; they tried to run the world rather than run away from it. But isolationism is making a comeback as Americans tire of foreign entanglement. In this definitive and magisterial analysis-the first book to tell the fascinating story of isolationism across the arc of American history-Charles Kupchan explores the enduring connection between the isolationist impulse and the American experience. He also refurbishes isolationism's reputation, arguing that it constituted
dangerous delusion during the 1930s, but afforded the nation clear strategic advantages during its ascent.
Kupchan traces isolationism's staying power to the ideology of American exceptionalism. Strategic detachment from the outside world was to protect the nation's unique experiment in liberty, which America would then share with others through the power of example. Since 1941, the United States has taken a much more interventionist approach to changing the world. But it has overreached, prompting Americans to rediscover the allure of nonentanglement and an America First foreign policy. The United States is hardly destined to return to isolationism, yet a strategic pullback is inevitable. Americans now need to find the middle ground between doing too much and doing too little.
In his Farewell Address of 1796, President George Washington admonished the young nation "to steer clear of permanent alliances with any portion of the foreign world." Isolationism thereafter became one of the most influential political trends in American history. From the founding era until the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, the United States shunned strategic commitments abroad, making only brief detours during the Spanish-American War and World War I. Amid World War II and the Cold War, Americans abandoned isolationism; they tried to run the world rather than run away from it. But isolationism is making a comeback as Americans tire of foreign entanglement. In this definitive and magisterial analysis-the first book to tell the fascinating story of isolationism across the arc of American history-Charles Kupchan explores the enduring connection between the isolationist impulse and the American experience. He also refurbishes isolationism's reputation, arguing that it constituted
dangerous delusion during the 1930s, but afforded the nation clear strategic advantages during its ascent.
Kupchan traces isolationism's staying power to the ideology of American exceptionalism. Strategic detachment from the outside world was to protect the nation's unique experiment in liberty, which America would then share with others through the power of example. Since 1941, the United States has taken a much more interventionist approach to changing the world. But it has overreached, prompting Americans to rediscover the allure of nonentanglement and an America First foreign policy. The United States is hardly destined to return to isolationism, yet a strategic pullback is inevitable. Americans now need to find the middle ground between doing too much and doing too little.
464 pages, Paperback
Published September 23, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
July 14, 2025
This is an important book at a time where the United States retreats into another phase of isolationism. The book by Charles Kupchan provided an excellent history of the motivation, discussions, and decisions on US isolationism from the founding of the country to the present day. The book shows that strategic isolationism is not necessarily a bad thing, but the motivations and the extend of the national isolation are important.
The initial isolationism following the founding of the USA seemed well founded. The USA tried to isolate itself from the turmoil in Europe, especially between the large colonial powers. The USA could afford the isolation due to the protection of two oceans, the abundance of resources, and the ongoing westward expansion on the north American continent.
The industrial revolution virtually shrank the oceans. As the westward expansion came to an end and the USA enjoyed a new economic power in the global competition, the national isolationism was soften to allow participation in the developments in central and south America. One key event was the Spanish war in 1898/99. However, isolationism had an additional, ugly side which was based in deep racists believes. Therefore new US territory was not, even upon request by the territories, formally included in the union.
While the US dappled in international collaboration during World War I, the floodgates broke open during World War II leading to the defeat of fascism in Europe and resulting in a new role as a global superpower.
Two concepts are carried through the narrative which seem problematic at least to a first generation immigrant who was not indoctrinated in US schools - "American exceptionalism" and the "redeemer nation." The author unfortunately stopped short on examining these concepts in detail and w.r.t. isolationism, pax Americana, and the USA as global police force.
This book is highly recommended and was very captivating and enjoyable as audiobook.
The initial isolationism following the founding of the USA seemed well founded. The USA tried to isolate itself from the turmoil in Europe, especially between the large colonial powers. The USA could afford the isolation due to the protection of two oceans, the abundance of resources, and the ongoing westward expansion on the north American continent.
The industrial revolution virtually shrank the oceans. As the westward expansion came to an end and the USA enjoyed a new economic power in the global competition, the national isolationism was soften to allow participation in the developments in central and south America. One key event was the Spanish war in 1898/99. However, isolationism had an additional, ugly side which was based in deep racists believes. Therefore new US territory was not, even upon request by the territories, formally included in the union.
While the US dappled in international collaboration during World War I, the floodgates broke open during World War II leading to the defeat of fascism in Europe and resulting in a new role as a global superpower.
Two concepts are carried through the narrative which seem problematic at least to a first generation immigrant who was not indoctrinated in US schools - "American exceptionalism" and the "redeemer nation." The author unfortunately stopped short on examining these concepts in detail and w.r.t. isolationism, pax Americana, and the USA as global police force.
This book is highly recommended and was very captivating and enjoyable as audiobook.
July 30, 2023
Very helpful, very detailed look at the history of isolationism in America. Kupchan does a great job of telling you what he's going to tell you before he tells you, which made the book a slower read but probably increased comprehension. After a thorough definition of isolationism, including its six logical underpinnings, the book covers The Era of Isolationism 1789-1898, The Defeat of Realist and Idealist Internationalism 1898-1941, and The Rise and Fall of Liberal Internationalism 1941-2020. The closing chapter revisits the six logical underpinnings today and offers three broad guidelines to find a stable middle ground between isolationism and internationalism. It was a lot, but I learned a lot.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews