First published 2014
Andrew Bacevich examines how America developed a dangerous fixation on military solutions and global ideological missions. He traces this militaristic mindset to the aftermath of Vietnam, when diverse groups from soldiers to politicians to Christian evangelicals embraced military revival as medicine for national wounds. Bacevich argues this fusion of military might with utopian beliefs about American values has transformed the United States into a crusader nation convinced it must spread its way of life worldwide. This approach invites perpetual warfare and corrupts democratic institutions while isolating America from other nations. The author demonstrates how this militarization accelerated after September 11th, producing grandiose ambitions backed by faith in force. Bacevich calls for restoring realistic limits to American policy and realigning military methods with founding principles. The book offers readers a framework for understanding how militaristic thinking shapes contemporary foreign policy and threatens both fiscal stability and democratic governance.
Genres: american, political-science, non-fiction, 21st-century, military-history, american-history
Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: critical-analysis, historical-perspective, ideological-critique
Setting: United States
Period: Aftermath of Vietnam War, Post-9/11
270 pages · ebook · Oxford University Press, USA