Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg
Curt-Engelhorn Chair in American History
Prof. Dr. Manfred Berg
Winter Term 2008/2009
The Reluctant Empire?
U.S. Foreign Relations in the
20th Century
Historisches Seminar der Universität Heidelberg
1
Prof. Dr. Manfred Berg
 Office Hours: Tuesday, 11-12 a.m.,
R 041
 Email: manfred.berg@zegk.uniheidelberg.de
 Phone: 54 2276
 www.schurman.uni-hd.de
 Reading Course: Tuesday, 4-6 p.m.,
ÜR III
Historisches Seminar der Universität Heidelberg
2
Exams and Credits
 Zwischenprüfung (Grundstudium Geschichte):
Oral or Written Exam!
 Orientierungsprüfung (Grundstudium Geschichte)
 Oral or Written Exams for Erasmus Students and
Other Foreign Exchange Students
 Written Exams for B.A. and M.A. students (new
programs)
 Review Sheet will be distributed in early
December
 Written Exams:January 19, 2009
Historisches Seminar der Universität Heidelberg
3
Internet Access to course
Materials
 http://elearning.uni-heidelberg.de
→ Philosophische Fakultät
→ Mittlere und Neuere Geschichte
Login: urz-identification
Access key: empire
 http://www.hca.uni-heidelberg.de
→ M.A. in American Studies
→ Curriculum 2009
Historisches Seminar der Universität Heidelberg
4
Textbook
 Dennis Merrill and Thomas G.
Paterson,
Major Problems in American
Foreign Relations,
2 volumes, 6th ed., Boston:
Houghton Mifflin Company, 2005.
Historisches Seminar der Universität Heidelberg
5
Today‘s Topics
 Traditions
 Approaches
 Empire
Historisches Seminar der Universität Heidelberg
6
Thomas Paine
(1737-1809)
 “It is the true
interest of America
to steer clear of
European
contentions which
she can never do
while by her
dependence on
Britain.”
Historisches Seminar der Universität Heidelberg
7
George Washington
(1732-1799)
 “It is our true
policy to steer clear
of permanent
alliances with any
portion of the
foreign world.”
Historisches Seminar der Universität Heidelberg
8
John Quincy Adams
(1767-1848)
 America “goes not
abroad in search of
monsters to
destroy… She
might become the
dictatress of the
world. She would
no longer be the
ruler of her own
spirit.”
Historisches Seminar der Universität Heidelberg
9
Monroe Doctrine of
December 1823
 “The American
continents, by the
free and independent
condition which they
have assumed and
maintain, are
henceforth not to be
considered as
subjects for future
colonization by any
European powers.”
Historisches Seminar der Universität Heidelberg
10
Principles of the Founders




Political and military non-alignment
Commerce and trade with everybody
Continental Expansion
Hegemony in the Americas
Historisches Seminar der Universität Heidelberg
11
American Exceptionalism
 America is special and different from
other nations, especially from Europe
 America has a historical mission to
which it must remain faithful
Historisches Seminar der Universität Heidelberg
12
John Winthrop
(1588-1649)
 “We must consider
that we shall be as
a City upon a Hill,
the eyes of all
people upon us.”
Historisches Seminar der Universität Heidelberg
13
John Adams (1735-1826)
 “I always consider
the settlement of
America with
reverence and
wonder, as the
opening of a grand
scheme and design
of providence for
the illumination and
emancipation of the
slavish part of
mankind all over
the world.”
Historisches Seminar der Universität Heidelberg
14
America’s Mission
 Examplarists: America must be an
example of a good and prosperous
society which others will emulate.
Trying to impose its model would
discredit the mission and destroy its
spirit.
 Vindicators: In order to survive, the
American model must be actively
spread all over the world.
Historisches Seminar der Universität Heidelberg
15
Walter McDougall: Promised
Land, Crusader State
 Old Testament (19th Century):




Liberty at home
Unilateralism
Monroe Doctrine
Continental Expansion
Historisches Seminar der Universität Heidelberg
16
Walter McDougall: Promised
Land, Crusader State
 New Testament (20th Century):




Progressive Liberalism
Wilsonian Internationalism
Containment
Global Meliorism
Historisches Seminar der Universität Heidelberg
17
Walter Mead:
Special Providence
 Hamiltonians
 Strong government and foreign trade
 Wilsonians
 Spread of democracy and international
peace
 Jeffersonians
 Safeguarding democracy at home
 Jacksonians
 Security and prosperity for the American
people
Historisches Seminar der Universität Heidelberg
18
Approaches
Traditional Diplomatic History:
 Focus on state actors and governments
 Eurocentric model
Wisconsin School:
 Capitalist Expansion as driving force
 Ruin of America’s republican ideals
Historisches Seminar der Universität Heidelberg
19
Approaches




Foreign relations of societies
World Systems
International History
Transnational History
Historisches Seminar der Universität Heidelberg
20
Approaches
 Culture:
 Collective customs, ideas, values and
symbols that shape world views and
perceptions
 Soft Power
 Americanization?
Historisches Seminar der Universität Heidelberg
21
Approaches
 Gender and Race




Social and cultural constructions
Social hierarchies and power relations
Casting foreign nations and societies
Legitimizing Power and Domination
Historisches Seminar der Universität Heidelberg
22
What is an Empire?
 More than a powerful nation state
 Not just a hegemonic power
 Keepers of imperial peace: Pax
Romana, Pax Americana
 Imperial Overstretch
Historisches Seminar der Universität Heidelberg
23
Colossus: The Price of America’s
Empire by Niall Ferguson
 The U.S. must be the heir
to the British Empire
 The U.S. has no imperial
political culture
Historisches Seminar der Universität Heidelberg
24
Empires: The Logic of World Domination
from Ancient Rome to the United States
by Herfried Münkler
 Imperium Americanum subject to
the historical logic of empire
 Imperial Overstretch
 Democratic decision-making
requires short-term solutions for
long-term problems
 Universalist ideology requires
moral luxuries and provokes
charges of hypocrisy
Historisches Seminar der Universität Heidelberg
25
Reluctant Empire?







Is the U.S. an Empire?
Should it be an Empire?
Traditional Empire?
Liberal Empire?
Informal Empire?
Empire by Invitation?
Imperial Republic?
Historisches Seminar der Universität Heidelberg
26