The rise and the end (?) of the American era: Wilsonianism, its legacy  and the international strategy of the United States Cover Image

Narodziny i koniec (?) wieku Ameryki: Wilsonizm i jego spuścizna a międzynarodowa strategia Stanów Zjednoczonych
The rise and the end (?) of the American era: Wilsonianism, its legacy and the international strategy of the United States

Author(s): Andrzej Podraza
Subject(s): Political history, Recent History (1900 till today), Geopolitics
Published by: Instytut Zachodni im. Zygmunta Wojciechowskiego
Keywords: foreign policy; the United States; Wilsonianism; democracy promotion; multilateralism

Summary/Abstract: The main goal of the article is to analyse continuity and change in American foreign policy with a particular emphasis on the concept of President Woodrow Wilson and its impact on the international strategy of the United States during World War II, the beginning of the Cold War and after it. The article puts forward the thesis that the concept of Woodrow Wilson was not created in a vacuum and although it brought to an end the era based on the Farewell Address of President George Washington’s from 1796, it fits very well in the tradition of thinking about the American nation and its mission, as well as with other elements that form the basis of the U.S. international activities. Wilsonianism, understood as liberal internationalism, has been a very influential concept in the development of American foreign policy for decades and contributed during World War II to the rise of the American era in international politics. Due to the transformation of the global order after the end of the Cold War and in view of the presidency of Donald Trump, the question of the end of the American century may be considered. In analysing the U.S. foreign policy, the author takes into account both the liberal theory, referred to by Woodrow Wilson, as well as realism that can be associated with Wilson’s predecessor, President Theodor Roosevelt.

  • Issue Year: 376/2020
  • Issue No: 03
  • Page Range: 105-124
  • Page Count: 20
  • Language: English, Polish