CGS SS 102 Lecture Notes - Lecture 19: Francis Fukuyama, Truman Doctrine, American Exceptionalism
Document Summary
The post-war era: the two new superpowers. America vs. russia after wwii: each possessed nuclear weapons, polar opposites in culture, economics, history. American exceptionalism: identity never race, ethnicity, or religion was common ideology. Vision of democracy that founding fathers wanted to be model for rest of the world. American nationalism most ideological set of ideas that constitutes what it is to be an american (salute flag, sing national anthem, etc. : mission/destiny to better world city upon a hill (winthrop) The truman doctrine: any country threatened by communism, offered aid and military, pushed international peace board (united nations) The marshall plan: single most effect foreign policy in history, aid was not a loan, was gift. Given to europe to recover economies: was enlightened self-interest, did it to prevent communism, had to be won over to american"s side.