The Paradoxes of American Nationalism

Source: Carnegie

THE PARADOXES OF AMERICAN NATIONALISM

Foreign Policy magazine, May/June 2003

Summary

As befits a nation of immigrants, American Nationalism is defined not by notions of ethnic superiority, but by a belief in the supremacy of U.S. democratic ideals. This disdain for Old World nationalism creates a dual paradox in the American psyce First, despite this nationalistic fervor, U.S. policymakers generally fail to appreciate the power of nationalism abroad.

About the Author
Minxin Pei is senior associate and codirector of the Endowment's China Program. He is the author of From Reform to Revolution: The Demise of Communism in China and the Soviet Union (Harvard University Press, 1994) and China's Trapped Transition: The Limits of Developmental Autocracy (Harvard University Press, forthcoming).

Also by Minxin Pei:

Lessons From The Past: The American Record of Nation Building(Carnegie Endowment Policy Brief No. 24)
Beijing Drama: China's Governance Crisis and Bush's New Challenge (Carnegie Endowment Policy Brief No. 21)
Rebalancing United States—China Relations (Carnegie Endowment Policy Brief No. 13), coauthored with Michael Swaine
Future Shock: The WTO and Political Change in China (Carnegie Endowment Policy Brief No. 3)

Carnegie does not take institutional positions on public policy issues; the views represented herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of Carnegie, its staff, or its trustees.