Empire as a Way of Life by William Appleman Williams, Andrew J. Bacevich (Introduction)

Synopsis

"An unblinkered look at our imperial past . . . a perceptive work by one of our most perceptive historians."-Studs Terkel

Awork of remarkable prescience, Empire As A Way of Life is influentialhistorian William Appleman Williams's groundbreaking work highlightingimperialism-"empire as a way of life"-as the dominant theme in Americanhistory. Analyzing U.S. history from its revolutionary origins to the dawn ofthe Reagan era, Williams showshow America has always been addicted to empire in its foreign and domesticideology. Detailing the imperial actions and beliefs of revered figures such asBenjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln and Franklin DelanoRoosevelt, this book is the most in-depth historical study of the Americanobsession with empire, and is essential to understanding the origins of ourcurrent foreign and domestic undertakings.

Backin print for the first time in twenty-five years, this new edition features anintroduction by Andrew Bacevich, author of American Empire: The Realities andConsequences of U.S. Diplomacy.

Biography

William Appleman Williams (1921-1990) was one of the 20th century's most prominent historians of American diplomacy. His The Tragedy of American Diplomacy is often described as one of the most influential books written on American foreign policy, and Empire As A Way of Life is considered a seminal work on the study of American imperialism.