James Turner Johnson
What America's role among the nations should be, a central question of American identity since the colonial period, has taken on new urgency in the present context. Stepping off from the 9/11 attacks and the war on terrorism, Skillen brings historical, political, and theological analysis to bear on what American exceptionalism should mean today, arguing for understanding it as the effort to create an 'empire of freedom' in which the United States uses its economic, political, military, and ideological power to take the lead in reshaping the international system to foster a community of free, self-governing, and prosperous societies. Wide ranging and nuanced, this book offers a clear vision of how to build on what is best in the ideal and reality of America.
John Kelsay
James Skillen's book engages issues in contemporary U.S. foreign policy through the lens of just war tradition. As such, his engagement with discussions of the U.S. policy, intervention and state sovereignty, and responses to terrorism are set in a broad moral and historical framework. One need not agree with all of Skillen's arguments to appreciate his acuity; his book is a valuable contribution to current debates.
Johan D. van der Vyver
American foreign policy is troubling to the outside world, and perhaps to many Americans as well. Defiance by American policy makers of inter-governmental institutions and international law when American interests seem to dictate such a course of action, a self-assumed messianic calling of the United States to rid the world of repressive regimes, neglecting peaceful means for bringing about political reform in maverick states and at times resorting to armed intervention to achieve that calling, and in general, American exceptionalism founded on a sense of uniqueness and self-righteousness, are clear markers of American hegemony but have also provoked severe criticism from among America's closest allies.
In America's Role Among Nations , Jim Skillen offers his readers penetrating insights into the positive and negative appendices of American foreign policy. The focus of his analysis is on the historical roots of that policy, tracing the American mind-set to its Greco-Roman origins and exploring the influence of the Reformation and Enlightenment on convictions held dearly by the Founding Fathers and carried forward into modern times. He tracks contemporary manifestations of the American credo from Wilson to Bush in a great variety of empirical settings.
This is a good book. It accommodates the views of an impressive array of leading scholars in the field. It reflects the author's unique insights into and understanding of history, political theory and contemporary policy positions and actions. It is written in a style that would appeal and make the book accessible to experts as well as to those not schooled in the intricacies of history and political science. It provides to the reader a clear understanding of often highly controversial policy positions entertained and acted upon by the powers that be in Washington D.C.
Lloyd Ambrosius
From an avowedly Christian perspective, James Skillen examines America's role in the 21st-century world. Critical of the religious Right and of George W. Bush's unilateral, militaristic pursuit of the Wilsonian mission to spread democracy worldwide, he advocates a new U.S. foreign policy. This new approach, he argues persuasively, would recognize the limits of America's power to remake the world in its own image. Rather than seeking U.S. hegemony in the name of freedom and democracy, the United States should use its influence to promote human rights and new forms of global governance in ways that recognize diversity among nations and their interdependence—a combination of 'realism' and 'idealism' very different from Bush's. This thoughtful book is a welcome addition to the current debate.
Steven Meyer
As with his past efforts, With or Against the World? is a testament to James Skillen's broad perspective, deep knowledge, extraordinary insight, and his uncanny ability to bring them all together in a highly readable, lucid discussion of the most critical issues facing the U.S. and the West today.
