Most Americans believe the United States had been an isolationist power
until the twentieth century. This is wrong. In a riveting and
brilliantly revisionist work of history, Robert Kagan, bestselling
author of Of Paradise and Power, shows how Americans have in fact
steadily been increasing their global power and influence from the
beginning. Driven by commercial, territorial, and idealistic ambitions,
the United States has always perceived itself, and been seen by other
nations, as an international force. This is a book of great importance
to our understanding of our nation's history and its role in the global
community.